There’s nothing that I love more about Halloween than fun Halloween food ideas. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I am always on the hunt for easy Halloween recipes. Creepy cocktails, mummy mini pizzas, a halloween snack board…all the things. It’s so fun to make cute and creepy spooky snacks for kids and … Read more
Halloween in Orange County is hot. October is the warmest time of the year and that lends itself to great trick-or-treating, outdoor Halloween celebrations, and over the top outdoor Halloween decorations. Backyard Halloween parties are commonplace in these parts with the warm weather. For years we’ve had parties with scavenger hunts, monster mash cake-walks, Halloween … Read more
As hard as it is for me to let go of summer, It means that spooky season is just around the corner, and that is definitely something to look forward to! If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you know that I am obsessed with Halloween (and pretty much the entire holiday season!) I … Read more
There’s nothing I love more at Halloween time than a spooky drink or spooky treat….you know…gummy body parts or something served in a black cauldron with candy eyeballs…that sort of thing. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays…you can probably tell by all of the Halloween content on the blog. It’s funny because I don’t … Read more
I was at Target yesterday and Back to School is definitely on everyone’s mind! The school supplies were all out and I had a hard time passing them by. 😉 I am such a sucker for new boxes of crayons and pencils, erasers, a good pocket chart…all of the fun things for a new classroom … Read more
Nothing makes a party or holiday feel more like a special occasion than an eye-catching balloon garland. I knew that I wanted to make July 4th feel a little more like a party than usual, so I ordered a DIY Balloon garland kit from Amazon. This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure … Read more
The 4th of July is almost here and that means it’s time to plan the perfect 4th of July menu! Whether you are attending family gatherings or a neighborhood block party good food is always the best part of any Independence Day party! I decided to put together all of my best fourth of July … Read more
I was at the store yesterday and saw these cute Easter candy kabobs and was tempted to buy them for Easter baskets, but I knew that my kids didn’t like most of the candy included on them. So although they were cute, I knew the candy kabobs would go to waste. I decided to peruse … Read more
I don’t know about you guys but I am always on the hunt for cute and creative neighbor Christmas gift ideas. For many years in CA we used to deliver chips and salsa to friends and neighbors for Christmas. I love that it is something savory to give that most, if not all people, like. … Read more
Happy Christmas Home Tour day! Have you been following along with all of the beautiful tours from yesterday and today? I just love Marty’s tour every year. If you are joining me from Chalking Up Success, welcome!! I am so happy to have you here today to share our Christmas family room decor. I rarely … Read more
I know, I know…Thanksgiving dessert recipes are all about pumpkin pie, but dare I say that in our house we all prefer apple pie? Specifically Dutch Apple Pie. When I was growing up my mom had a church recipe book, kind of like an early blog, where all the ladies at church submitted their best … Read more
Cue “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” You know what that means!! Time for lots of free Halloween printable tags and cute ideas! I love these bold, graphic Happy Halloween tags with their cheery jack-o-lantern taking center stage. The bright orange pumpkin against that deep black background is attention grabbing for sure. Are … Read more
I couldn’t resist. I almost made it to Valentine’s Day without creating a corny printable free valentine card…but I just can’t help myself. If you know me, then you know just how dear to my heart these Valentine’s are. 😉 If you get one from me, then you KNOW I love you. lol! My love … Read more
Welcome to day 4 of our Christmas home tour! Up today…the Living Room! This year I decided to shake things up a little with our Christmas living room decor and move the tree to the other side of the room. I also decided to use our REALLY full Frasier fir faux tree. Whoa! I had … Read more
Christmas Home tour day two! Today is a bit of a special day…this is a space that hasn’t been seen here on the blog in full. I have a few more things to tweak before it’s ready for it’s everyday introduction, but I had to decorate it for Christmas since the office sits right in … Read more
Well, I’m a little late to the party this year…but better late than never, right? I told myself that I wasn’t going to decorate this year. Yep, you heard that right. I was going to go SUPER simple and low key…well, that lasted precisely until December 1oth when I just couldn’t handle it anymore and … Read more
Happy (almost) Halloween! I’m sure your little ghouls and goblins are SO excited this weekend with just one more day until the big night! Celebrations have been in full swing in our neighborhood with pumpkin carving parties, costume contests and even a little early trick or treating amongst the neighbors. Tomorrow night we’ll be gathered … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to start cranking out all the fun free printables for the holidays! If you’ve been following along with me for awhile, you know that I LOVE to make printables. It’s so fun to see them get used over and over again and the creative ways you … Read more
Alright, let’s get this party started! School started this week in most places around the country and that can only mean one thing! It’s time to get thinking about the holidays!!! I saw this funny picture on Oriental Trading’s instagram this morning and it helped me feel less silly about hitting publish on this post. … Read more
It’s always crazy to me when we hit February. Sometimes January can seem to drag on, but once February hits, it feels like it’s go time! It’s already a short month to being with and then add in the Super Bowl, three day weekends, and Valentine’s day and it seems to make it fly by! … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…holiday home tour season! Have you been following along with all of these beautiful tours the last few weeks? I just love Marty’s tour and I’m so glad it’s my last tour this year. Saving the biggest tour and biggest room for last! 🙂 If you are joining … Read more
December is here!! Yay for all things Christmas! Are your decorations up and ready to go? I love it when Thanksgiving falls just a little bit earlier in the month of December rather than on the 29th or something, because I love to have an extra few days after Thanksgiving to prepare for the month … Read more
Hello! Welcome to my very first home tour of the Christmas season! I’m so excited to be joining Tana and the other talented bloggers sharing their homes all decked for Christmas today! It’s so fun to have you here. Thanks for stopping by and spending a few minutes of your day with me! 🙂 I … Read more
I was having a conversation with a friend today who said that Thanksgiving is her least favorite holiday. She doesn’t love all the pressure of cooking the perfect meal and the time that goes into it, only for it to be gobbled up in 10 minutes. It’s funny how different people think about things. I, … Read more
Cute food has my heart. If it looks like it belongs at a party, I want to make it…and eat it. 😉 These adorable and SUPER easy Nutter Butter acorn cookies are definitely on the list of cute foods. They are the perfect treat for fall and, if you’re looking for a treat that the … Read more
If you want Christmas decor from , now is the time to get it! I was walking around one of my favorite neighborhoods in Corona del Mar this past weekend and I could not believe how many cargo ships were sitting out off the coast. It is so crazy! Stores are having a hard time … Read more
I always love a good free printable, and Thanksgiving often gets overlooked here on the blog because I am all crazy planning for Christmas. 😉 I whipped up these Thanksgiving gift tags the other night and wanted to make sure to get them posted before I forget and the holiday is over! 😉 This post … Read more
Christmas decorations always make everything look so pretty. While I’m not a total minimalist, I’m also usually not one that likes things unnecessarily cluttered…but when it comes to Christmas more seems to be more. 😉 I feel like greenery and garlands is what makes the biggest impact when it comes to beautifying our homes for … Read more
There’s nothing that I love more about Halloween than spooky Halloween food ideas. It’s so fun to make cute and creepy food for kids and see the faces and hear the squeals of delight from the kiddos when you present the spooky food. This year I’ve been keeping it relatively simple in the Halloween department, … Read more
This month feels like it is running away from me! I made these free printable happy Halloween tags a few weeks ago thinking I was going to be so on top of things this year, and now, here we are just 2 weeks away from the big day itself and I’m just now getting them … Read more
This sweet & bubbly Halloween sherbet punch is always a hit and the perfect punch for your Halloween parties this year!! Years ago…and I do mean years…I was nine and my parents were about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Can we say honeymoon baby?! Anyways, party planning is in my blood…I come by it … Read more
What are you up to for New Year’s eve this year? Are restrictions in your area keeping you from gathering with friends and family, or are you going to have a big get together? We’re planning to have a small family celebration, but that doesn’t mean that our night can’t be tons of fun! If … Read more
How was your Christmas? I hope it was wonderful and restful and filled with family, food and fun. Ours was quiet with just the three of us and dare I say…I LOVED it? Of course I wish Andy had been with us, and frankly, he was most of the day on FaceTime, but it was … Read more
It’s that time of year…the most wonderful time of the year…the time of year where everyone is scrambling to find the perfect last minute Christmas gifts for everyone on their list. I have been pretty organized this year…I think it’s due to mostly online shopping and no where else to go! 😉 I have made … Read more
Ever since I shared my Christmas bedroom decor ideas last week I have gotten a few questions about how to decorate your bedroom for Christmas specifically for teenage girls. Believe me, I have a teenage girl and I know all about how much they want to decorate everything and personalize their space. She is the … Read more
Happy Monday! It’s always so fun to start the week with a Christmas Home Tour! I look forward to Marty’s amazing tours every year. Do you guys get as excited about seeing everyone’s beautiful Christmas decor ideas home tours as I do? It’s so fun to see how everyone does Christmas in their own home. … Read more
It’s time for The Evolution of Style and 11 Magnolia Lane Holiday Home Tour! I am so excited to participate in this tour…it gave me the chance to decorate a couple of spaces that sometimes get overlooked. I always like to add a few things to our bedroom, but I don’t always get around to … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again…time to get to tour lots of beautiful Christmas decor ideas home tours! I love this time of year for so many reasons. One of them is definitely the opportunity to get the house all dressed up and share our Christmas decor along with lots of friends. … Read more
Who is excited for turkey and all the fixings next week? And who is more excited for leftover turkey sandwiches? That would be me!! I love Thanksgiving dinner, but if I’m being honest, it’s mostly for the side dishes. 😉 All the carbs…stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie…I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! We have … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to break out all the sweets and treats and comfort foods! Woohoo! We are having a VERY small family dinner this year appropriate for 2020. Just the 3 of us and my brother’s cute family that live in our area. As much as I will miss … Read more
Are you in full Christmas decorating mode yet, or are you a better person than me and let Thanksgiving have her day before you decorate? 😉 Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE Thanksgiving…like a TON. I really appreciate the stress-free, gift-free, no expectations holiday when you truly can just enjoy friends and family…but when Thanksgiving doesn’t … Read more
I am in the middle of trying to just get the OC Ranch Reno put together for regular everyday living…but the holidays are upon us and so regular decorating has taken a back seat to Christmas decor ideas! Wahoo! This house is a much different color scheme than the 1987 Fixer Upper and has a … Read more
I am always looking for fun and easy ways to celebrate the holidays and Halloween is one of my favorites. Halloween treats are a must, and the cuter the better! I love to make all kinds of treats, and finding ways to use leftover Halloween candy is always a fun challenge. I had a few … Read more
Bugs. I can’t stand them. So much so, that whenever we move, the very first thing I do is call a pest control company and make sure that they make their first visit before we ever move in. lol! Maybe that’s why when it comes to making things feel spooky at Halloween, my Halloween decor … Read more
I can’t believe we are heading into the final push before Halloween! What are you guys doing this year? Is Halloween going to look pretty normal for you, or are restrictions and pandemic concerns keeping things limited? I’m not really sure what it’s going to look like around here. I hear rumors of trick or … Read more
This might be a little premature, but what can I say…I’ve got Christmas on the brain and this year especially, I can’t get Home Alone’s famous quote “wash your hands you filthy animal” out of my head. 😉 I guess a pandemic will do that to you. 🙂 So, I channeled that energy into a … Read more
This year’s wild pandemic situation has kind of left Halloween plans a bit up in the air, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop celebrating around here! We’re definitely going to do our best to make it a jolly holiday regardless of the world being a little upside down right now. And Halloween is … Read more
It’s already the middle of September, and if you’re anything like me, you are wondering how we got here and why it feels like it should be Easter and not Halloween. 😉 Such a crazy year! We had a great introduction to fall earlier this week that fit perfectly with 2020. Monday was Labor Day … Read more
Quarantine Day 15…how are you holding up? 😉 We started quarantine a little earlier than everyone else, due to a bad case of the flu that hit our house a few days before things got really crazy…(not good timing when your poor kids are certain that their fever means they have the dreaded virus!) Two … Read more
I can hardly believe that we’ve already hit the time of the year where we’re talking about Easter! These years are flying by…although I think the next few weeks quarantined for COVID-19 will slow things down a bit. 😉 That’s not all bad though! I don’t know about you, but I have tons of things … Read more
A few months ago John and I took Ash to a Jonas Brothers concert. To be honest, I was probably more excited about it than she was…yep, I’m one of those moms. 😉 It was definitely one of those experiences where I felt pretty old for the first time. 😉 95% of the audience was … Read more
I don’t know about you guys, but I will admit that I am still a Bachelor watcher. This is where I should insert the monkey hiding his eyes emoji. 😉 But come on, I know that there are a lot of others of you that can’t stop watching the train wreck either…our Bachelor party and … Read more
It’s almost time to celebrate the New Year! Woohoo! I don’t know about you guys, but our New Year’s parties always involve the kiddos. It’s fun and crazy, and I can’t think of any other way I’d rather usher in a new year than with all the people I love the most. This year I … Read more
Alright folks, we’re here. The last official weekend before Christmas and only 4 days left to shop…(well three and a half, really). I had to laugh the other day when I was in a store buying a few things and the clerk asked if I had been shopping on Amazon yet and I chuckled and … Read more
I don’t know about you guys, but this is the week we have big baking plans in our house. The gifts are all bought, school is out for Christmas break, and we are turning up the Christmas music, lighting the fire and baking up a storm. We’ll definitely be making some of our favorite family … Read more
Every year Ash likes to come up with a little something fun to give her friends at school the last day of school before Christmas break. It’s always a little bit of a challenge to find something cute and inexpensive enough to give to lots of people, so hopefully these fun free printable gift tags … Read more
It’s hard to believe that we are already getting down to the wire as far as buying our gifts for gift giving. I saw an email pop up in my inbox yesterday that said “Need a great last minute gift?!” I thought, what?! I haven’t even bought ONE gift yet and now it’s already last … Read more
Happy Monday! I love kicking off the week with a Christmas Home Tour! I look forward to Marty’s amazing tours every year. There are so many beautiful homes for you to see all week. If you are joining me from Rhoda’s stunning blog Southern Hospitality, welcome! I just love her home and everything she shares. … Read more
I am SO excited to be sharing some of our Christmas home with you today! With Thanksgiving falling so much later this year, it has thrown me for a loop trying to hurry and get things ready for Christmas. I don’t know about you guys, but I need that extra week in between Thanksgiving and … Read more
I am so excited to be a part of this blog hop today with 20 of my favorite blogging friends sharing gorgeous ideas for Thanksgiving table settings. I don’t know about you guys, but even if I don’t host thanksgiving, I still find myself cooking thanksgiving dinner for my own family a week or so … Read more
One of the biggest decisions in our house this time of year…what will our Christmas tree look like this year? How do we want to decorate for Christmas. I have to admit, that being a blogger, it’s a bit hard to stick to traditional Christmas decor every year because there is always something new and … Read more
It’s hard to believe that October is already winding down…I feel like I have a million other Halloween ideas left to share and I am out of time! Thank goodness for next year…I’ll just have to keep you in suspense until then! 😉 I have been wanting to put together some fun ideas for non-alcoholic … Read more
I can’t believe it’s time to be thinking about Thanksgiving menus already! Do you host at your house, or do you usually go somewhere else? This year we’ll be heading to my aunt’s house in San Diego and I can’t wait! She has the most amazing property…her own farmhouse and gorgeous oak trees lining the … Read more
I have a confession to make…I’ve been pretty lazy about Halloween Decor this year. I can’t believe I’m saying that! I LOVE Halloween, but this year it has just kind of sneaked up on me and I feel like I am out of time! With the Orange County house renovation, unexpected overseas travel, busy senior … Read more
As much as I love Halloween, one activity I don’t particularly enjoy is cleaning out the gooey slimy pumpkin guts when it’s time to carve jack-o-lanterns. No-carve fall pumpkins have quickly moved to the top of my list of favorite Halloween DIY projects since they are cute and don’t involve any guts. 😉 This week … Read more
We are gearing up for Halloween fun around these parts and that means it’s time for some cute new free printable Halloween tags! You know I love making free printables, especially when they are attached to cute gift ideas. Booing friends and neighbors is really a great excuse to whip up some fun packages. This … Read more
Take me just about anywhere for dinner these days and I’ll be browsing the cheese and charcuterie board options on the menu. I LOVE the pretty boards full of delicacies styled to the nines. Creamy cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, olives, chutney, bread and crackers, spicy meats…so many good things! And let’s face it. There is … Read more
Halloween and cupcakes….pretty much two things that make me deliriously happy. Themed treats and punny sayings, costumes, decorations and parties…what is not to love about this time of year? I am so excited to be sharing one of our favorite cupcake recipes, along with this simple idea to turn them into the perfect easy kid … Read more
I love to decorate for Halloween almost as much as I do for Christmas. We are about to break out all the Halloween decorations around here this week and things will start to get a bit creepy. The weather has really taken a turn and it is definitely cooling way down, which makes Halloween decorating … Read more
Guys, can I just tell you how much fun I am having working with Oriental Trading these days? When they emailed a few months ago and said hey…it’s Friday the 13th in September….let’s get our skeletons out of the closet and party, I couldn’t help but jump on board. They are introducing a bunch of … Read more
Ah! October is almost here so I am officially all in for Halloween. I was actually in Halloween mode several weeks ago…but I’ve been trying to hold off and not make you feel overwhelmed here on the blog. 😉 I don’t want anyone to feel rushed to jump into the holidays…but boy am I ready!! … Read more
Where we come from in Orange County, Halloween is a BIG deal. Like REALLY big. As a matter of fact, it was voted the #1 place in the state of California to celebrate Halloween. Yep. That big of a deal. 😉 One of the factors that I’m sure helps, is the fabulous weather in Orange … Read more
Happy 4th of July! This week is always such a fun one with communities celebrating with 5k’s and pancake breakfasts, carnivals and street fairs…all leading up to the main event…BBQ’s and fireworks on the big night. I always feel such a sense of pride and gratitude for this country. I feel like so often we … Read more
I’m sure you’ve seen them all over the place. Those super cool tie dye cakes and cupcakes. You know the ones where you cut into the cake and it is all swirly and colorful inside? Well, Ash has been wondering how to make tie dye cake mix for some time now, so we thought we … Read more
A couple of years ago, when my parents relocated from San Diego where my dad had his office for over 30 years, we all went to help him clean some things out and pack up. I could not believe that he still had little notes I had written him and pictures I had drawn him … Read more
I LOVE the 4th of July! In case you haven’t been able to tell by all of my red, white and blue posts, free patriotic 4th of July printables and red, white and blue decor articles, I can’t get enough of it. I actually like to get the house all red, white and blue before … Read more
One of my greatest joys in life is gift giving. I LOVE the challenge of coming up with clever, thoughtful gifts for those that I love. I don’t always succeed, but I try really hard to pay attention to things that people mention in conversation and watch for clues throughout the year of things I … Read more
I can’t believe that we are headed into the final month of school! Teacher appreciation week is just around the corner and you know how much I love to celebrate our teachers! If you are looking for the perfect teacher appreciation printable, look no further! I have a collection of super cute teacher appreciation printables … Read more
Easter is quickly approaching and I am so excited to share these Happy Easter printables with you! I am trying something new with these free printables, and we’ll see how it works. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for fun party backdrops and signs. When I was at Costco the other … Read more
Spring and summer are all about Strawberries. Strawberry Jam, Strawberry pie, a great strawberry shortcake recipe …I can’t get enough of them! I am always looking for pretty party centerpieces and these strawberry topiaries are always a hit at any gathering…baby shower, bridal showers, Mother’s Day brunches..you name it. If you are wondering how to … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again…time for clever, punny and funny printable Valentine’s Day cards for kids to take to school and deliver to their neighborhood friends. I LOVE coming up with a fun valentine or two each year and this year (albeit a little later than I am usually creating them) … Read more
I’m sure you have seen them pop up here from time to time, but did you know that Pink Peppermint Design has a giant library of Free Printables Online for every occasion? No matter what you are looking for, I’m sure we have something for you…for FREE…that can be downloaded instantly! You may or may … Read more
It’s that time of year when we are all looking for red and pink decor and fun heart shaped decorations to make. This wood button heart craft is my three favorite things: fun, easy and cute. In only a matter of minutes and with just a few supplies, many of which you probably already have … Read more
Hollywood award season is upon us and the next many Sunday nights will be full of glitz and glamour. When it comes to Oscar party ideas I don’t know about you guys, but I love any good excuse to get people together and eat yummy food! My idea of an Oscar themed party is to … Read more
These silly handmade design valentine cards will be a hit in the classroom for all ages. In just a matter of minutes you can print out this cute pucker up valentine printable and grab the kids to help make these handmade cards in minutes. I know this time of year everyone can be on candy … Read more
I cannot believe that it is time to ring in another New Year. As I get older I honestly feel like time is seriously speeding up. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were partying it up with the kids, playing games, eating way too much dip, lighting the field on fire with … Read more
As it gets closer to Christmas, I am starting to get a bit sad about having to start to take down the Christmas decorations in under a week. Yesterday I realized that I never shared my easy Christmas entry way decor ideas this year. I wanted to put together something SUPER easy and pretty in … Read more
As it gets closer to Christmas I keep finding new little spots I want to add a little Christmas cheer to. One of our guest rooms is actually one of my favorite spots in the house because the beds just look so darn cute when they are all made up. (Maybe it’s really because no … Read more
My kids anticipate the holidays almost as much for the new kids movies that are coming out as the food and presents! Over the summer I took my kids to the movies. During the previews, they had the cutest digital short from Pixar. It was about a slightly funny looking, but adorable snowman. A few … Read more
Last week I shared one of our family favorite treats to deliver to friends and neighbors at Christmas time, and this week I thought it would be fun to share a free Christmas treat tags printable to go with it. We like to call our snack mix Reindeer Bait. You can really make the snack … Read more
It’s no secret that I love any excuse to party…we’re even known to have what has affectionately become known as “fake parties” here in our house just so I can have an excuse to set up something cute. HA! When Ashley mentioned getting a few girls from school together I immediately thought “PARTY!” but coming … Read more
What a fun week! I am so excited to be participating in the 2018 Holiday Home Tour with the talented ladies from 11 Magnolia Lane and Evolution of Style. Lynch Creek Farm is sponsoring this tour and providing all of the homes with beautiful wreaths, garlands or centerpieces, so you are in for a real … Read more
It is time to deck the halls and I couldn’t more excited to kick off the Christmas decorating ideas with these 19 other talented bloggers to share all of our Christmas kitchen decorating ideas. The kitchen truly is the heart of the home, and especially at the holidays when it is full of baked treats … Read more
I really want my kids to appreciate Thanksgiving for what it is and understand how important it is. As part of our homeschool classroom party for Thanksgiving we had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. I thought I would share some of these ideas with you in case you are looking for some Thanksgiving Feast Ideas for … Read more
I love making every season special with the kids. Crafts and fun themed foods, parties and outings…whatever I can do to make the seasons fun and memorable. I’ve spent a lot of time since we moved going through a bunch of pictures and things from over the years and have run across a few things … Read more
After yesterday’s Christmas living room decorating ideas post you are probably wondering just how I think I’m going to work red into that color scheme…am I right? Well, that is precisely what had me going back and forth for so long too. I am determined to add red because I just love it at Christmas, … Read more
Christmas and definitely the end of the school year are super busy times. Classroom parties, testing, holidays, vacations… it’s a crazy, sometimes overwhelming time of year. Let’s make it easy this year and get one thing out of the way. What to give your child’s teacher! Coming up with teacher gift ideas is just another … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…time to unearth mounds of boxes and rubbermaid tubs full of sparkly decorations and transform the house into a wonderland. I might like Christmas a little bit…can you tell? 😉 Last year we were still very much in transition into this house in UT. Construction wasn’t even finished … Read more
Do you have a family Christmas pajamas tradition? Every year I can’t wait to find the cutest Christmas pajamas…there is something about them that just seems cozy and wonderful. We are in our Christmas pajamas every chance we get. If it gets cloudy outside…time for Christmas pajamas…if we’re watching a Christmas movie…time for Christmas pajamas…you … Read more
Let’s just say it out loud…boys are kind of hard to shop for. I mean, they are easy in the sense that they really don’t want much more than a shirt or some sort of gadget, but when it comes to knowing what they really want and finding something kind of creative for them, I … Read more
How is it possible that there are only 17 more days until Thanksgiving?! These last few months of the year are always such a blur. Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year, or in charge of setting the table? Well, good news. You are in the right place for loads of beautiful Thanksgiving table setting ideas. … Read more
Happy November! I cannot believe I am saying that! It is so hard to believe that the holidays are already here. I am totally guilty of often skipping right over Thanksgiving and jumping into Christmas, but Thanksgiving is actually one of my favorite holidays. I love the food, family and friends with no expectations of … Read more
It’s always fun to get a few friends together and celebrate the holidays, and in our house we love to do that with movie nights. Putting something together that is cute doesn’t take a ton of effort, and for the kids, getting to invite some friends over for treats and a movie makes them feel … Read more
It is so fun in the 1987 Fixer Upper to have two fireplaces to decorate. This is our first year being able to decorate, since at this time last year everything was still under construction. With the shiplap behind the fireplace in the family room, I was thinking about what direction I wanted to head … Read more
The holidays are so much fun, but really, there is nothing quite like seeing the holidays through the eyes of a child. The years are fleeting…as a matter of fact, the pictures in this post are from years ago…and I can’t believe just how much the kids have grown. I feel like these pictures were … Read more
I am so excited to be joining forces with some of the most creative girls on the internet today and tomorrow for a fun Halloween DIY blog hop. I love any excuse to craft something up, and working with these girls is the best! If you are joining me from Bird’s Party blog, welcome! I … Read more
It’s the middle of October already! Can you believe it? I feel like I start out each holiday month feeling like I’m getting a head start on decorating, and then poof! Before I know it, the month is already half over and I am only partially ready. Today, I am teaming up with 6 of … Read more
With fall entertaining around the corner, I have started thinking about fun ways to decorate the dining room table. I love a good flower arrangement, but sometimes it’s fun to come up with what to put in a vase other than flowers. It’s even more fun to come up with unusual flower arrangement containers and … Read more
We have been breaking out all the Halloween decorations this week and I couldn’t be more excited about it. There is finally a chill in the air and we are listening to the raindrops outside while decorating to Halloween tunes inside. It is the most wonderful time of the year for sure! I had the … Read more
If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you know that I love to make stuff. But I also don’t have much patience when it comes to making things. lol! That means that most of my projects are super easy and usually utilize some sort of pre-made something or other. I often walk down the … Read more
CHECK OUT THE UPDATED POST & NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIST FOR 2022 HERE!! The older my kids get, the harder it seems to shop for them…anyone else out there feel the same way? It used to be so easy to wander the aisles of Target and find a million things that I thought were … Read more
When you think of Halloween colors, black and orange are usually the first to come to mind, but Halloween party ideas don’t always have to revolve around those colors. Having a girly-girl has definitely taught me that non-traditional colors and Halloween party ideas make for equally fun and pretty parties. I put together these colorful … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again…time for Halloween! I don’t know about you but I love making fun little gifts and Halloween treat tags for the kids and neighbors. This bugs and kisses printable tag has been a favorite for awhile. I love to use it and wanted to make sure and … Read more
I admit it, I have become one of “those” people. Yes, the kind that buys costumes for their dog. Ever since Jack joined our family earlier this year it’s been almost like having a new baby…and now, a toddler that walks around without a diaper on and speaks only Chinese. 😉 He has doctors appointments … Read more
Halloween is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, you are looking for fun traditional Halloween activity and games ideas to keep the kiddos entertained. While it has been a few years, I used to throw a big Halloween carnival for our neighborhood every Halloween, so I built up a pretty … Read more
If you are looking for an easy DIY costume for Halloween look no further! This DIY Spider Headband is it! I am notoriously bad about waiting until the last minute to throw something together to wear for Halloween. Without a doubt, the day of Halloween rolls around, and while I may have dressed up … Read more
Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Every few years I throw a Halloween party for 50 of my closest friends. A chance to come up with a fun theme, create party food and decorations to work with that theme, and dress up? That is right up my alley. I usually start my party … Read more
There is nothing like summer. I love the days of freedom without being tied to a schedule, no homework, no bedtime, just enjoying time spent together as a family and the kids getting a chance to be kids! Year end celebrations and end of the school year activities can get crazy at this time, but … Read more
If you’re anything like me you are DREADING even the thought of back to school…but sadly enough I know that it is just around the corner…as a matter of fact I know that many people in places like Arizona are headed back in the next week or two. Yep! In JULY!!! Yikes! SO, I thought … Read more
Get your red, white and blue on and get ready to celebrate Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the 4th of July with these cute patriotic 4th of July Party favors. Show off your American spirit and throw a Fourth of July celebration that’ll go down in history, and cap off the festivities with these darling Let Freedom Ring … Read more
The Fourth of July is almost here and we’ve got red, white and blue parties on the brain. If you are hosting a backyard BBQ at or heading to the beach for a picnic party, you’ll want to be ready with festive decorations and food. Well, look no further because here are 15 Awesome 4th of July Party Ideas to … Read more
The 4th of July is just a few days away and I am getting excited! All of my red, white and blue party dreams are going to come true. These free printables are fun for 4th of July party favors, neighbor gifts, something fun to hand out at the fireworks…you name it. This year we’ll be … Read more
Every good party needs a party favor, am I right? These fun printable patriotic party tags are perfect for all of your 4th of July parties…or any red white and blue party for that matter…think Memorial Day party, Flag Day party, Election night party, Veteran’s Day party…you name it…there are tons of uses for these … Read more
One of my favorite things about summer is getting the chance to put up the patriotic decor, and leave it up all summer long. Kicking things off with Memorial Day in May and rounding out the summer with Labor Day at the end, is a perfect excuse to change up the decor and let it … Read more
Hooray for the Red, White and Blue! Seriously though, isn’t it such a great color combination?! It’s time to plan for some fun Patriotic parties, and there is nothing better than an inexpensive, easy and super cute party backdrop idea. I made this DIY Patriotic party backdrop in about 30 minutes, using nothing but some … Read more
Shopping for Father’s Day gifts? A great dad deserves a fantastic present, and yet they can be pretty impossible to buy for. This is the year you’ll find something perfect for him. From traveling to ties, we’ve got Father’s Day gift ideas covered for the main man in your life. A father’s day gift guide … Read more
It’s almost time to celebrate dad! Yay! That means dad gets a free pass to tell all the really lame dad jokes and silly stories his heart desires for 24 hours. Have you found the perfect gift yet? I’ll be sharing a round up of great Father’s Day gift ideas tomorrow, but for now, here are … Read more
Cupcake toppers are easy to make, are inexpensive, and add a personalized handmade touch to every gathering. The best part is, they only take minutes to make and can turn any store bought cupcakes or even appetizers into something special. While perusing the party store the other day for some Patriotic party ideas, I ran across some … Read more
It’s hard to believe that the last day of school is here and summer is about to begin! Woohoo! These next few days are going to fly by with all of the fun things planned for these kids. The kids always like to have a little something to pass out to their friends on the … Read more
Why is it that everything miniature is always so much cuter? I was at Hobby Lobby the other day and found this adorable tiny pinata, and decided it was a “need.” So, of course I had to think up an excuse for buying it. That’s when these cute birthday wishes tags were concocted. 😉 I … Read more
I think we’d all be in agreement that coming up with what to do for teacher appreciation week, much less coming up with teacher appreciation week ideas for each day of the week can be a little overwhelming! Well, hopefully this easy and FREE teacher appreciation week printable will come to your rescue! We have … Read more
Brunch is my favorite meal of the day. I love finding new great restaurants that serve brunch near me or great brunch recipes. Hosting a brunch party when the weather is nice is even more fun. With Mother’s Day next weekend and the fun baby showers and bridal showers that spring and summer bring, I … Read more
This teacher appreciation printables PDF is the perfect teacher gift idea for any thankful parent, enthusiastic student or PTO president celebrating teacher appreciation week. Download these cute pdf files to create gift ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week. Make teacher gift giving easy this year with these adorable “school so cool” printables. This cute teacher appreciation printables PDF is printed … Read more
There are only a few more days until Easter and that means it’s a perfect time for some Spring table setting ideas. I made a goal this year to make the blog (hopefully) even more useful than it has been in the past by teaming up with some of my favorite bloggers each month to … Read more
Easter is right around the corner and every year as the kids get older, it gets a bit harder to come up with something fun for their Easter Baskets. We have three rounds of company coming over the next few weeks (yay!!), so I am being proactive this year and have put together Ashley’s basket … Read more
I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up, St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t all that of a big deal. If you remembered, you would wear something green to school that day so that the kids didn’t pinch you, but other than that, there really wasn’t a whole lot of hoopla surrounding it. Well, … Read more
If you don’t already know this about it me it’s time you learned that I love all things glitter and sparkle! If I have a chance to add glitter to something, I will take that opportunity. 😉 What better way is there to celebrate a birthday than with a Happy Birthday Cake Topper Gold Glitter … Read more
It’s Valentine’s Day on Wednesday…are you ready? Well, if not, have no fear…I’ve got one more free printable valentine up my sleeve for 2018…and I think it’s pretty cute…but I might be biased. 😉 This “Put a Ring On It” Valentine was inspired by Ashley. While there is no “official” Valentine party in middle school … Read more
This shop has been compensated by CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendingYourLove #CollectiveBias It’s February and that means it’s time to break out the red and pink and heart attack the house! If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, then you know that I LOVE Valentine’s day! For me, … Read more
I love Valentine’s Day for all the cheesy, cutesy ways to show those you love just how much they mean to you. I also love any excuse to party and celebrate with my girlfriends…so, when Kelly from A Green Spring Home asked if I’d like to be a part of the Valentine’s Day at Home … Read more
It’s that time of year again! Time for my favorite handmade free printable valentine’s! I have been having fun coming up with some new ideas for 2018, and here is the first for this year’s handmade free printable Valentine’s. I know that there is a big push in lots of schools (and in lots of … Read more
What’s red and white and pink all over? One of my favorite holidays…Valentine’s Day! I seriously love the cheesy, fun, cute and lovey-dovey cards and gifts that this holiday celebrates. If you’re new to the blog, welcome! Definitely take a minute to check out all of the free printable DIY Valentine’s Day Cards from year’s … Read more
I am so excited to be teaming up with 11 of my favorite blogging friends to share fun Valentine party themes for kids! Sweet Summer, from She Leaves A Little Sparkle invited us to create a cute and fun Valentine party themes to share. And, it is easier than you might think! If you’re joining me … Read more
I love fun DIY party decorations and I love them even more when they take minutes and look super cute. These Confetti Cups check both of those boxes. These cute DIY party decorations are perfect for every party table…weddings, birthdays,a New Year’s Eve party…every occasion. You can simply change the type of confetti or the … Read more
New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and it is time to party hard! I always see so many fun party supplies that have a Pop Clink Fizz theme, I decided to do a party based on that…but with a bit of a twist this year. We have a family New Year’s Eve party, … Read more
Each year I really try to find a way to help my kids and our family celebrate the true reason for the Christmas season. It can be hard to get kids and even us adults sometimes to remember that Christmas is more than just pretty decorations, fun gift lists, parties and yummy food. Affiliate links … Read more
Please tell me that I am not the only one incredibly behind on my gift buying this year! I am seriously starting to feel the crunch this season…but at the same time I feel remarkably calm about it…like Christmas isn’t in just 15 days. lol! Oh well…it’s been that kind of year. I think I … Read more
Decorating the family room for Christmas is fun, and we always buy Christmas jammies, but this year we took it one step further and added in some Christmas bedroom decor. I always see the Christmas bedding when I’m out and about shopping each year and I have always thought it would be fun to decorate … Read more
I am so excited to be a part of this year’s Meaningful Holiday Home Tour. Laura from Meaningful Spaces is kind enough to put this together every year. I was lucky enough to live just minutes from her in OC, one of the reasons I can’t wait to return home to So Cal before too … Read more
I’m pretty sure that we could all fall under the “Home decor Enthusiast” category, am I right? Who doesn’t love something fun and new for the house? It’s amazing how even something little can just totally refresh a space…and how good it can make you feel to walk by the room and see it every … Read more
At the risk of looking like a crazy lady, I am going to show you my family room Christmas decor. 😉 I LOVE a ridiculous feature wall, some of my favorites are the Halloween wall I did out of old medicine book pages, and last year’s snowflake wall. To create something fun doesn’t cost much … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…time to deck the halls! It is fun to have some new halls for me to deck, that’s for sure! With everything freshly painted and new this year, I am extra sensitive about making sure I don’t damage anything while I’m having fun making things pretty. You know … Read more
Today’s post and Gifts for Him Gift Guide are extra special because it gave me a chance to focus on John and what I would like to give him this Christmas. I spend so much time fussing over what to get the kids this time of year, but focusing on him is what is really … Read more
How is it Thanksgiving already? This year has seriously gone by so fast I can hardly believe it. I’ve got a tree in my family room and I’ve been shopping all week for our Thanksgiving menu, yet somehow I still can’t wrap my brain around the fact that we are smack dab in the middle … Read more
This last year has been such a whirlwind, I can’t even believe it is time for Christmas! It is so fun to have the contractors finishing up this week literally as the holidays begin. With so many things in transition over this last six months, this holiday season is a chance for us to really … Read more
So this is really no big secret if you’ve been following me for awhile, but with Christmas shopping kicking into high gear this week, I thought it was worth a quick mention. 🙂 I feel like I have my own army of holiday elves each year at this time…they drive around in a big brown … Read more
If you have kids then you know it is never too early to start Christmas shopping…especially when it comes to securing the hottest toys for Christmas that are guaranteed to be on every kid’s Christmas list. I grew up in the days of Cabbage Patch Kid craziness. I had one on my list and I’m … Read more
When do you start listening to Christmas music in your house? Growing up my dad had a strict rule that there was no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving dinner was eaten. It used to drive me crazy…especially since they started playing Christmas music on the radio in the middle of November! It obviously wasn’t a … Read more
I don’t know about you guys, but we are on sugar overload at our house. Each week I try and bake homemade goodies for the kids to have in their lunches at school throughout the week and this time of year I find myself wondering what to do with leftover Halloween candy. Do you have … Read more
Are you hosting Easter dinner this year? Or maybe you’re in charge of Easter desserts? Either way, we’ve got you covered with these cute and easy bunny ear cupcakes. The best part? You don’t even have to make them…unless you want too of course. 😉 I picked these delicious cupcakes up at Bristol Farms in … Read more
One of my favorite things about food, are the memories that it carries with it…kind of like music. When I hear a certain song on the radio I am transported back to a period of time like a Jr. High dance and can vividly remember that moment in time. When I make certain recipes, the … Read more
This school year has gone by SO quickly! I can’t believe that we are already about to celebrate teacher appreciation week! Crazy! I love to make teacher appreciation card printables because I love celebrating those that work so hard to teach our children. They use their time and talents everyday to ensure that our kids … Read more
Are you feeling lucky? Well, you should! 😉 I am always on the look out for cute crafts for St. Patrick’s Day so here’s a little freebie for you. Something that can easily be turned in to a fun classroom treat or a St. Patrick’s Day party favor. Affiliate links are included in this post. … Read more
I’m kind of in love with these silly little DIY valentines. The kids and I always get a kick out of checking our eyes when we’re at Costco. The optometrist has an eye chart that is visible from the checkout lanes, so we always pass our time waiting in line seeing who can read the … Read more
Our New Year’s Eve parties are always a family affair. We have some dear family friends that we celebrate with every year…bowling, dinner and then festivities at home with games, more food and fun. Because we always involve the kiddos, all of our New Year’s Eve party ideas are kid friendly. This easy DIY New … Read more
Earlier this season I was browsing through the website (something I find myself doing often 😉 ) and I found these darling milk bottles that had seasonal sayings on them in gold. Cute sayings like “cheers” and “sips” that I thought would be perfect for a New Year’s Eve party. I bookmarked the page so … Read more
It’s that time of year…the most wonderful time of the year…the time of year where everyone is scrambling to find the perfect last minute Christmas gifts for everyone on their list. I have been WAY less organized than usual this year and have found myself running from store to store (like this afternoon at the … Read more
If you’ve followed me for awhile now, you know that I am all about beautiful, but incredibly easy entertaining. Don’t get me wrong, I am not afraid to put some time into creating beautiful things, but I want them to be easy to do. Easy table settings, easy food, easy, easy, easy! 😉 The best … Read more
Are you hosting this Christmas? I am and I’m pretty excited about it. There will just be a small group of our family, but I love setting a pretty holiday table. Can I share my absolute favorite tip with you for setting a pretty table? Buy white plates. Well, I guess there are really two … Read more
I don’t know about you guys, but when I’m giving a gift card I am always looking for a clever way to wrap it up. I am always on the hunt for a cute gift card holder or gift card bag ideas…something that makes a pint sized gift look fun and exciting. I was at … Read more
Welcome to our Christmas Home Tour! I was so excited when Marty from A Stroll Thru Life invited me to participate in her wonderful Christmas home tour this year. She is such a great hostess and I enjoy looking at everyone’s tours each season, so I am extra excited to be participating this year! If you … Read more
What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? Do you have special rolls that your grandma used to make? Driving through neighborhoods looking for Christmas lights? Visiting Santa? I love to hear about other people’s Christmas traditions…so I thought I’d share one family’s favorite Christmas traditions with you too! 🙂 Every year since the kids … Read more
You all know that I can’t resist a great excuse to make a fun DIY teacher Christmas gift and fun printable. This DIY Christmas gift idea isn’t just limited to teachers though! It would make a fun DIY Christmas gift for just about anyone. When I was at Michaels (same trip where I picked up … Read more
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Hallmark Signature through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Hallmark Signature, all opinions are my own. These years are flying by. I feel like we were just celebrating New Year’s Eve and now it’s almost time to ring in 2017. Whenever … Read more
The Christmas season is SUCH a fun and busy time of year. Something about decking the halls makes us want to gather our friends and family and celebrate with good food, Christmas party games, Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. I always like to get a chance to gather my girlfriends together and do something fun, … Read more
I have a super easy and cute DIY for you today, just in time for all your fall entertaining! Can I tell you a little styling secret? Sometimes I have food around my house that I use in shoots for a LONG time. I work with SO much party food that I can’t possibly let … Read more
When it comes to plaid anything, I *might* have a slight obsession. Plaid ties, plaid scarves, plaid throws, plaid pillows, plaid plates…I am a bit mad for plaid to say the least. Something about this time of year just makes me want to drape the house (and myself) in plaid. Remember the plaid wall from … Read more
I was at Target the other day looking for Halloween clearance, and of course I was totally side tracked by the Christmas stuff that was going up. 😉 There were So many cute wrapping papers, gift bags and boxes that it got my creative juices flowing. I wanted to figure out a way to use … Read more
With cable channels dedicated to nothing but food and cooking, including shows for kids and teens, even my kids are quite knowledgeable about food. I think everyone considers themselves a bit of a foodie these days, but finding the perfect present for every foodie on your list can be a tough job. If you are … Read more
Christmas time calls for the Elf movie to be on a continuous loop in our house. It is just too funny and really brings the holiday spirit. We like to kick off the holidays with an Elf movie night party. (and we may or may not kick off the Christmas movie watching in October…eek!) I … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…when Santa is making his list and checking it twice and you can hold every little thing that the kids do to misbehave over their heads with threats of Santa not paying them a visit this year. 😉 Probably the best 6 weeks as parents, am I right? … Read more
We have a week left! The countdown to Halloween is on and the energy level in my house is palpable…how about in your house? We are finishing up the neighborhood “booing” this week, attending our yearly Trunk or Treat party, visiting the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins and having class parties. Whew! By the time the … Read more
Well, we’ve got a week left. A week to carve pumpkins, attend carnivals, parties, trunk or treats, participate in costume parades, eat tons of junk and trick or treat. Whew! Are you ready? If you’re like me, you always wait to the last minute and rely heavily on Amazon Prime to deliver Halloween to your … Read more
Do you like to dress up for Halloween, or is that reserved strictly for your kids? I have been searching for the best halloween costumes, and is it just me, or do you blush when you are shopping for Halloween costumes…especially once you get into the teen and women’s costumes? Seriously…what is up with the … Read more
Chocolate pumpkin ice cream sandwiches. Does that sound decadent or what? You guys…I found the most AMAZING ice cream! Have you tried the pumpkin pie ice cream from Trader Joes? It is DIVINE! I knew when I tasted it that I needed to make something fun with it, and well, I had some chocolate chocolate … Read more
Every year I love to create something fun and a little bit spooky for both Halloween and Christmas on the wall in our family room. It’s a fun challenge for me to design something that is new and different, but also easy and relatively inexpensive each year. Last Christmas I created this Buffalo Check Plaid … Read more
Can you believe it’s October already?! Where does the time go? I feel like I was just lamenting about summer ending and school starting, and now, here we are nearly two months into school and the holidays are upon us! Starting around the middle of September I start getting the itch to break out the … Read more
Halloween is just around the corner and next to Christmas, the Halloween decoration take up the second most space in the garage at our house. We LOVE this spooky fun holiday, and a party at our house is practically a must every year. One of my favorite parts of throwing a Halloween party is picking … Read more
This post brought to you by Chobani. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Pink Peppermint Design. Long warm nights and summer holidays are here and that means it’s time to entertain! Successful parties don’t require long hours spent in the kitchen- just simple food, good company, and a pretty setting. This weekend … Read more
Remember that cute sprinkle mix that we made a few weeks ago? Well, we’re going to put it to use today with some of the yummiest and cutest sugar cookies around to turn yourregular everyday sugar cookies into something special. These are the perfect sugar cookies for all of your summer parties, especially the … Read more
Strawberries are in season and nothing says summer like a sweet strawberry shortcake. It doesn’t get any easier than this strawberry shortcake recipe. I am a fan of homemade whipped cream, so I did use that for this shortcake recipe, but if you are afraid of making cream from scratch or running short on time, … Read more
It’s almost time to celebrate dad! My kids get so excited to think up creative Father’s Day gifts to give to their dad. Do you have any special traditions at your house? Ashley loves to decorate a tie for John. We find an all white tie and let her go to town with fabric paint, … Read more
It’s time to start planning all of your upcoming patriotic parties. Memorial Day , Flag Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and this year we even get an extra patriotic party with Election night in November! If you’re shopping for the best 4th of July deals and sales, find them all here. Red, white and … Read more
I can’t believe that Mother’s Day is almost here. I feel like we were just celebrating Christmas and now the year is practically half over. YIKES!! I was walking through the mall the other day and was drawn into Lush by the smell of all of their amazing bath products…have you been there? It’s like … Read more
It’s almost my favorite month. May is pretty good for me. Between Mother’s Day, my birthday and then just a few days into June is my anniversary, this is my month to sit back, relax and be pampered. 😉 I love putting together these Mother’s Day gift ideas. It’s a chance for me to gather … Read more
If your house looks anything like ours, you probably have dozens of beautifully decorated Easter eggs taking up valuable fridge space and you are wondering how to use up all of those leftover Easter eggs. This year I have vowed to be better about putting those eggs to use and making a few delicious hard … Read more
Thank you to everyone that linked up to our March Pretty Project Party! You continue to amaze us with your talent, and we all feel like the selection process for features is getting tougher and tougher! Our first feature was this beautiful spring home tour from the talented April at House by Hoff. Such a … Read more
With St. Patrick’s Day and Easter so close together this year I’ve barely had time to whip up some Easter goodies. Peeps are such a fun and colorful Easter tradition, here’s a little Easter Peeps favor and free printable you can whip up in a few minutes and have ready for Easter dinner guests and … Read more
Are your kids as excited for St. Patrick’s Day as mine are? Ashley is convinced that THIS is the year she is going to catch the rascally little Leprechaun that wreaks havoc on our house every year. She has been working on and perfecting her trap since January…I kid you not. She makes me laugh! … Read more
These easy to make thin mint ice cream sandwiches are sure to lure all the little leprechauns in your neighborhood. I mean, who doesn’t love a great mint and chocolate combination? I don’t know about you guys, but I LOVE to buy Thin Mints from the cute little Girl Scouts in my neighborhood and then … Read more
As the kids get older and all of our schedules get busier we have found it harder and harder to find time where all four of us are in the same spot. Does that happen at your house? When I was growing up we had dedicated family time both on Sunday afternoons after church and … Read more
February has flown by. I can’t believe that we were just celebrating Valentine’s Day and red and pink were filling up my Instagram and blog feeds, and now it’s already time to switch to green for St. Patrick’s Day! Here is a simple but totally cute and delicious treat you can make this month to … Read more
I am SO excited about today! Several of my favorite bloggers from around the web have invited me to join in on their fun, monthly link party as one of their two new hostesses, along with Rachael from This Is Our Bliss. We will both now be joining in the fun! Each month I’ll share … Read more
I was browsing through old pictures the other day and couldn’t believe that I haven’t shared this party here yet! It is being featured in Mingle Magazine this month, and was SUCH a fun one to do. You already know I love all things Valentine’s day…the cheesier the better, and this party is no exception. … Read more
It’s time for another free printable Valentine! This is the last one in my collection of Handmade Valentines for 2016 I’m afraid! But don’t worry! I’m already dreaming up ideas for next year! Print out this “I’m Nuts About You” free printable valentine and whip up 20 of them in no time for all your … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, the time when I get to create cheesy valentine’s to my heart’s content. 😉 This easy “You Drive Me Wild” valentine is sure to be a hit with the kids and it’s candy free! The valentine is a 5×7 size and you can print it at Staples … Read more
Walking through Nordstrom a few weeks ago, I noticed that they had cute necklaces and bracelets with keys on them. Such a simple idea, but so cute! Seeing those got the wheels turning, and so I came up with a little version of my own, a Valentine’s version. Here’s a new quick and easy DIY … Read more
I was at Michaels a bit ago and found this cool box in the scrapbooking and papercrafting department. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with it, but I knew I needed it. 😉 I finally figured it out…it was destined to be a cute DIY Valentine gift for friends, teachers, neighbors … Read more
Are you all ready for New Year’s Eve? I always feel like I don’t want to do anything major every year, until about 24 hours before hand and then I start feeling like I’m missing out on something so I quickly throw something together. 😉 Last year we went from not planning on doing anything … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…those last 48 hours before the stores close and Christmas Eve is here! Its time for last minute Christmas gifts! Do you have everything you need or are there still a few people on your list that you are fretting over? Just in case, here are a few … Read more
One of the trickiest things I find when wrapping gifts, is trying to find a clever way to wrap a gift card. Here’s a quick and easy DIY that I came up with for your gift card giving this year. These cute DIY Glittered Muslin bags take just a few minutes to make and looks … Read more
Are you in charge of taking dessert to a Christmas party this year? Well, here’s an easy DIY cake topper that will make any cake, homemade or store bought, look festive and fun in minutes. These washi tape Christmas trees can be made with just a few supplies and you can make them in any … Read more
If you are looking for a super cute and easy DIY Christmas gift for teachers, friends and neighbors that requires NO baking and takes only minutes to make…look no further! It’s cute, useful and takes no time at all! This time of year when everyone is wrapping gifts like crazy, this darling jar of twine … Read more
Here are some free Christmas printable tags for you today. I hope they help with all of your Christmas wrapping! I’ll be back tomorrow with an easy DIY to add this tag to. 😉 This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. This is the paper trimmer that I use for cutting … Read more
Looking for a fun, easy and thoughtful gift this Christmas? Here’s a perfect DIY for you. These diy painted wooden utensils and cutting board set are inexpensive to buy and can be dressed up and customized to match your recipients home or favorite colors to make it a truly personal gift. If you’re headed to … Read more
Are you hosting Christmas dinner at your place this year? Even if you aren’t, there is something fun about setting a perfect Christmas table. We are not the most formal people at our house, we eat off of paper plates most of the time because I like to cut down on the number of dishes … Read more
Don’t worry, I didn’t forget the gift guide for the men! I just always have a harder time shopping for them, so it takes me a little longer to create the perfect gift guide for them. 😉 Does anyone else have a hard time finding the perfect gifts for men and boys? Oh man! I’ve … Read more
One of my fun girlfriends hosts a “favorite things” party each year. Have you been to something similar? The way it works is each person invited to the party brings 2-3 wrapped gifts, each containing their favorite item of the year with a value or dollar amount set by the hostess (it is usually in … Read more
I can’t believe the time is here!! I feel like I was just putting all of these fun holiday decorations up and now it’s almost time to take them down. Before I do, I thought I’d give you a peek at our holiday home tour. In years past I’ve had green, brown and gold … Read more
I stumbled upon these cute little white ceramic feathers at Michaels in the dollar bins and they were calling my name. I decided to give them a little shine and add some metallic paint to the bottom half, giving them a dipped look. So easy, they take minutes and just a few supplies. Add them … Read more
Are you a traditional red and green Christmas decorator or do you tend to decorate to match your home’s colors? I recently switched up my decor to a more traditional red and green, but I wanted to share my beachy decor here as well! I love to pick up most of my decorations at HomeGoods … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The time when lots of bright orange packages arrive at my door! I’m always behind the camera and rarely in front of one, so this year it was an extra special surprise to get the four of us together in one frame. This summer on our odessy … Read more
I can’t believe that I haven’t shared this recipe here before. These buttery, sweet orange rolls are one of my favorite family traditions. Every holiday memory I have revolves around these orange rolls…in our house we call the time of year from Thanksgiving to Easter “Orange Roll Season” because we know they will pop up at … Read more
Oh it’s that time! Let the shopping season begin! It is so much fun to sift through thousands of ideas and pick out my favorites to share with you. If you have a techie on your gift list, this is the guide for you. Whether you are buying gadets for kids and teens or grown … Read more
Do you host for the holidays? I have lucked out these last few years and not hosted Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s funny, because I love to host…don’t get me wrong, but there is something really nice about being able to truly relax and enjoy the holidays without the chaos of making everything. Just because I … Read more
It never ceases to amaze me how brilliant and creative kids can be. The other morning I came downstairs to find Ash crafting at the kitchen island. She made the most adorable DIY Kid’s craft, I wanted her to show you how to make these fun Thanksgiving crafts for your party or Thanksgiving table this year. I have … Read more
Only 24 hours left until one of the most fun nights of the year! In case you are still looking for some great, last minute Halloween ideas, I’ve rounded up all kinds of great halloween crafts, printables and party ideas here from the blog over the last few years for you all in one spot! … Read more
Trunk or Treat is upon us! This fun night is one of my kid’s favorites. Probably because it involves about 1000 kids in costume running from car to car over and over collecting more candy than they can carry. Each year there’s a little contest for who decorates their trunk the cutest or spookiest. I love … Read more
Do you always want to create a fun, themed breakfast for your kids at the holidays, but feel like you never have the time? Well, here is the answer to all of your problems! 😉 You can whip up these delicious pumpkin pancakes in no time and top them with cute (and SUPER easy) whipped … Read more
Hard to believe, but Halloween is just around the corner! Whether your hosting a party, staying home to welcome trick or treaters, or in charge of classroom parties, it’s time to start thinking about treats! Here’s a quick and easy tutorial for a fun treat bag for party guests and little Gobblins alike. Fill these … Read more
I fell victim to the donuts again. 😉 Those cute, holiday themed donuts at Krispy Kreme that is! Have you seen the adorable Halloween designs they have? Monsters, Spider Webs, Pumpkins, Halloween Sprinkles…Man, I’m a sucker for cute packaging and good marketing! 😉 As I was driving home with my fresh box of cute Halloween donuts, … Read more
Halloween is almost here!! My second most favorite time of the year! (hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it!…sorry…I couldn’t resist!) 😉 I always have so much fun creating new projects each year to share with you all. Actually, sometimes it’s a bit nerve wracking to be honest. I REALLY want to bring … Read more
I’m SO excited that it is almost Halloween again!! You all know that I LOVE Halloween and all the fun spooky stuff that goes with it. Here’s this year’s free Halloween printable edition of a “boo”ing tag for you. The treat is SO easy, an oldie but goodie…one that I’ve shown you here before, just … Read more
If you’re looking for a super cute and easy DIY for your next party or get together, this is it! The best part? You don’t even have to break out the cake pans. 😉 There are SO many fun colors of candy melts available these days, you can make this cake to match any party … Read more
I’m not typically a pie girl, but this recipe has been in my family for years, and it is my absolute favorite Dutch apple pie. Something about the crumb topping makes it just irresistible! With the 4th of July right around the corner…what is more American than Apple Pie, right? Bring this to your BBQ … Read more
This year has flown by! Teacher appreciation day / week and the end of the school year has totally sneaked up on me this year. This year I whipped up a little something for you last week for teachers and I thought I would create one more teacher appreciation day printable for you all this … Read more
Moms are so hard to buy for…I know, I’m one of those that’s guilty of claiming that I don’t want anything but sweet kids and a happy day, but I have to admit it is nice to be treated like royalty for a day and be pampered. 😉 I wanted to create something this year … Read more
If you’re looking for an idea for easy entertaining for Mother’s Day…here’s one to throw together that will make it seem like you planned for days. 🙂 The grocery store bakery and Trader Joe’s are my secret weapons whenever I’m throwing together a little party. Whatever your grocery options in your area, grab an assortment … Read more
I love teachers and their dedication to our kiddos. The job seems to be getting more and more difficult each year with more students in each classroom and shrinking school budgets… even more of a reason to show our gratitude to them each year for teacher appreciation week. Here’s an easy printable and a round up of … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time, of the year… 😉 well, if you’re a mom that is! 🙂 Finally, for one day you are doted on, somebody else cleans up the messes, and you are showered with love and appreciation, all while the kids get along peacefully…at least until about 7:30am. 😉 I have learned over … Read more
Move over pastels…this spring is all about going bold! While pastels are pretty, lately I’ve been feeling like I want something that will carry me past Easter, into the later spring. One of my favorite things about spring (and I’m sure yours too) are the beautiful blooms popping up all over. Most of these flowers … Read more
Are you prepping to host Easter this weekend? Whether you’re hosting an egg hunt or dinner…or maybe both, here are a few of my favorite Easter DIYs from the past couple of years to help you out. 🙂 Lots of free printables and ideas for everything from hostess gifts to Easter favors in this DIY … Read more
I’m back this week with a simple idea to dress up your Easter dessert table! It’s a completely edible treat, including wafer paper grass from World Market! Simply make your favorite frosted cupcakes (or grab some from your local bakery) and surround them with edible grass. Top with your favorite foil-wrapped holiday chocolate. Imagine how … Read more
Hunting for the perfect Easter treat or Egg Hunt party favor? Look no further! These are super easy, totally cute, and there’s a free printable! 🙂 I put my donut holes in mini paint pails, but you can put them in anything. 🙂 Attach a bow and one of the Bunny Tail free printable tags … Read more
From St. Patrick’s Day treats to Easter treats… it’s a quick turn around between holidays, so let’s get you ready to dazzle, create and amaze this spring! We’re talking easter bunny cookies, two ways. You could say level 1 difficulty and level 2; we’re going to focus on level 1 today, but here’s a quick … Read more
Easter is just around the corner and that means it’s time for cute bunny crafts and candy! Here is a cute and relatively easy DIY to spruce up those peeps and make them even cuter than they already are. 😉 What you’ll need: Lollipop Sticks Chocolate Chips (I used milk chocolate) Shortening Bunny Peeps Parchment … Read more
St. Patty’s Day is around the corner and today we’re making a super simple DIY Felt and Canvas Shamrock pennant banner that is SO easy you’ll be making one for every occasion. 🙂 Have you seen these pre-made and cut canvas banner pieces? They make this banner take all of about 15 minutes. 🙂 Here’s … Read more
Remember last week we made a gloriously tall rainbow cake for St. Patrick’s Day? Well why not kill two rainbows with one stone? If you’re going to all the trouble of coloring your cake batter six ways, let’s use that leftover goodness to make a whole new treat! It’s simple as can be. Fill cupcake … Read more
I’m just an Irish girl at heart, and with St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to celebrate by making the magically delicious rainbow cake. Turn up the volume on your celebration this year! Add simple chocolate coin candy detail for that extra festive sparkle! Next, it’s time to play with food coloring. … Read more
I was walking through Macy’s yesterday and their valentine campaign ads stuck out at me. I know it sounds crazy, but I never know when inspiration is going to hit! 🙂 The tag line was “follow your heart.” Instantly I thought of following…what do you follow? Arrows that point you in the right direction! An idea … Read more
I’m sure you’ve seen them all over the internet. The cute, DIY felted garlands using felted balls and fun shapes decorating kid’s rooms, mantels, Christmas trees…you name it. Did you know they are super easy to make? Well, I’m here to show you how you can make your own in minutes. Don’t buy a felted … Read more
OH you guys! It’s one of my favorite times of year! Valentines! If you are at all familiar with the blog, then you know that I am crazy for valentine’s day. Not the mushy romantic stuff, but the cutesy, cheesy stuff. I love it. And I love handmade valentines. Each year I try to create … Read more
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe NYE. We had a little shindig around here after a last minute trip to Party City yesterday, I couldn’t resist. We’ve all been sick this Christmas break, so it felt good to do something fun! Here’s a little glimpse of our Black and … Read more
I must have been living under a rock, because I have never seen these adorable little mini Martinelli’s bottles. Even my husband said he’s seen them a million times…where have I been?? These DIY Glittered Party Bottles are one of the easiest DIY party ideas, and it is SURE to get a lot of oohs … Read more
Do you have company coming for New Years? It is SO easy to create a cheese plate that is a show stopping appetizer. It is quick, tasty and beautiful…and it’s my go-to appetizer when I’m having company. I love it because it’s SO easy to put together and looks like a million bucks. Here are … Read more
It’s hard to believe the year is already drawing to a close. I feel like I was just celebrating it’s arrival! Here are some free printable New Year’s Eve Midnight Kisses tags that you can use this year or any year to come. They are so cute and make the perfect New Year’s Eve party favor! … Read more
If you’re entertaining this holiday season it’s always nice to have a few Christmas party drink recipes on hand. Here’s one of my favorites. In just a few minutes you can whip up something that looks beautiful and pleases a crowd. What you’ll need for this Christmas Party drink: 1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice, chilled … Read more
You guys! Are you ready for one of the easiest DIY projects on the planet? This DIY garland is it! You only need two things and about 2 minutes to put this together. I made it for the Shutterfly Baby Shower, and I’ve also used it for gift wrapping. It will be perfect for all of … Read more
Who says sparkling cider is just for drinking and toasting? Why not for dessert too? This sparkling cider pound cake recipe with cider glaze is the perfect recipe for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. The pound cake is moist and delicious and the glaze…well, let’s just say be sure to make extra because you will … Read more
Are you giving gift cards this year for Christmas? Here’s a quick and easy DIY Christmas Crafts Gift Card Holder that will make them look like something extra special. MATERIALS Plain Bags Permanent Ink Rubber Stamp of Your Choice Crinkle Paper A gift Card I found this cute stamp at Michaels last year, but … Read more
I am SO excited to have Courtney from A Thoughtful Place blog here today sharing her Holiday Home and holiday decorations with us. I feel so blessed to have had a chance meeting with Courtney earlier this year that has turned into a special friendship. She is witty, a sweet and wonderful wife and momma, and an … Read more
Peppermint bark is one of the reasons I get up in the morning during the gloomy days of winter! Creamy white and milk chocolate topped with crisp and cool peppermint is a dreamy, delicious way to spread holiday cheer! This Peppermint Bark recipe is so simple to make, you don’t even need those tricky little … Read more
I have a new obsession. Don’t worry. It still involves glitter. 😉 I have been wanting to make something with German Glass Glitter for years now, but for whatever reason, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I love the chunky-ness of it and the vintage feel. As an added bonus, it catches the light … Read more
Winter has arrived… even here is Southern California! If your family is anything like mine, hot chocolate is a big request… on repeat! A sweet, warm drink that just makes you feel good all the way down to your toes! If you have been serving hot chocolate from a prepackaged powder mix… do yourself and … Read more
I love the Sound of Music. You may already know that about me if you’ve read this post. It is a staple in our house. Even my kids, teen boy included 😉 … like to snuggle up and watch this classic especially during the holidays. Tonight I’m headed to a little get together in my neighborhood. It’s a … Read more
The countdown is on! Only a few more short days and Christmas will be here! I can’t believe it. This month always goes by so quickly. Will you be delivering treats to friends and neighbors this year? If so, I’ve created a free Christmas printables gift tag for you hoping to make your life easier. 🙂 It is the … Read more
OK, I promised it…so here you go! Fun gift ideas for boys and men in your life. I don’t know about you guys, but I struggle with shopping for my boys sometimes. Unlike girls that can be pleased with just about anything and have a million hobbies, my boys are HARD!! I’m finally figuring out why there … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…time to shower those we love with special gifts and think of others before ourselves. There truly is something magical in giving. I love watching my kids scour the aisles for the perfect gifts for their friends, not thinking of their own wants. Sometime though, gift giving can be … Read more
Christmas is the season of celebrations and I’m always looking for a good excuse to get together and Christmas girl’s night party to celebrate with friends. If you’re looking for some Christmas girls night ideas, here’s one for you…grab some pretty wrapping paper, great appetizers and some fun girlfriends, and turn what can otherwise feel like a … Read more
In case you haven’t noticed, I love these little bottles. They are SO cute, the perfect size for drinks, super sturdy plastic (so you can wash and re-use if you want, but also don’t feel guilty throwing them away if you don’t want to wash them) that makes them great for kid’s party drinks…and my … Read more
How many of you are headed out black Friday shopping tonight after the Thanksgiving festivities are over? I wanted to help get you guys in the gift wrapping spirit! Here are some free Christmas gift tag printables to get you started! 🙂 This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. I like … Read more
When I hosted the Nancy Drew party for my daughter this summer, I made a quick and easy coffee filter banner. It’s super easy and would be so cute as a Christmas banner! The best part about these is that they are inexpensive, easy and can be made with just about anything. It’s all about the … Read more
If you’ve been following the blog for awhile now, you’ve probably noticed that I LOVE pretty things and I love to entertain…but I also love to find the easiest ways to make things pretty so that I’m not a huge stress case before and during the event. I want to enjoy it too, you know! … Read more
I can’t get enough of washi tape lately. This past May I had the opportunity to visit the Anthropologie store at Chelsea Market in New York. They were doing a big Washi Tape event and had decorated most of the store (floors, walls, tables etc.) in Washi tape patterns. It was quite the sight to … Read more
If you’re anything like me, you’re not quite ready to release your firm grip on pumpkin season. Sure, Christmas is everywhere, but it’s still November and I’m dedicating this month to warm, spiced desserts! My sweet friend, Maggie, shared this recipe with me last year and it’s my go to for something delicious and autumn … Read more
Oh the weather outside is frightful…well at least here it is. It is STILL 90 degrees!! Ugh! I’m starting to rebel by listening to Christmas music and decorating. 😉 A bright orange box of Shutterfly happiness arrived on my doorstep this week and made it a little easier to get into the “Christmas is coming soon” … Read more
What are you having for dinner tonight? Every Halloween I do a traditional dinner for the kids and it’s become a favorite that they look forward to each year. I know that Halloween is a super hectic day, so this is purposely easy to put together. As a matter of fact, it can all be store … Read more
When Shana of Society Sweets contacted me early in September with an idea to style a shoot to feature some of her amazing Halloween desserts, I was so excited! I typically throw a big Halloween party of some sort…either a big carnival for my neighborhood, or an adult Halloween bash…but this year I didn’t have … Read more