DIY Pencil Holder

June 1, 2014 by
DIY Pencil Holder

Summer is right around the corner! And what does that mean? School is coming to an end for another year. Why not do something special for your child’s teacher this year and let your child create an awesome gift to give to them on the last day of school?

This pencil holder is not only easy to make but versatile as well. You can easily exchange the craft sticks for pencils, crayons, etc. Whatever you have extras of at home. And the holder doesn’t have to just be for pencils! You can even include a little treat or a gift card for your child’s special teacher.

While we were making this craft together my son worked on his colors, letters, and sorting! So not only was it fun to make, it was educational too! What teacher wouldn’t love to hear that? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY, gifts, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Bigelow Vanilla Chai Banana Bread: The Perfect Mommy Time Out Snack

May 21, 2014 by

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This #AmericasTeas shop featuring a vanilla chai banana bread recipe has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

Bigelow Vanilla Chai Banana Bread The Perfect Mommy Time Out Snack

When the kids are asleep and the house is all quiet I feel like I finally have a little mommy time-out to relax, reset, and take a little time for myself after working and caring for the kids all day. Whether that time is spent sipping a cup of Bigelow vanilla chai tea or (if my husband is home) a walk around the neighborhood, I find essential to take advantage of this downtime.

Naptime has become my time over the past few years and I take full advantage of it. I take this time to prep dinner, get some laundry in, catch up on work, or make some goodies to enjoy after naptime. And sometimes? I even get to read. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve actually finished a book? It’s been a while.

As I recognize this opportunity for my own mommy time-out during naptime, I’ve been leaning more towards spending this time for myself instead of the endless list of chores and work that’ll be there after naptime.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Baking, Breakfast, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Hummus Without Tahini from Vegan Beans from Around the World

May 20, 2014 by

Hummus Without Tahini

For quite a while I have been on the hunt for the perfect vegetarian/vegan recipes to help change my family’s view of non-meat dishes. My husband seems to think that a meal isn’t a meal without meat.  So when I was asked to review Vegan Beans from Around the World by Kelsey Kinser I thought it’d be a great opportunity to try again and change the way my family thinks about mealtime.

I started small with a few appetizers and sides to test their limits. Then I went straight in and prepared some vegan dishes for dinnertime. And you know what? They ate it! And not only did they eat it… they enjoyed it.

While I haven’t quite convinced my husband that meat does not need to be in each meal, I have gotten him to open his eyes to new possibilities and new flavors thanks to the amazing recipes in this book.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Recipe featured on Someday I’ll Learn

May 19, 2014 by

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan recipe

Last week was hot here in San Diego. Cooking was far from my mind. As was turning on the stove. But since my kids still depend on my to feed them (yeah… the husband does too) I got smart and busted out the slow cooker.

Grabbing ingredients from our freezer and pantry I found that I could make a simple slow cooker chicken parmesan recipe in little to no time. The only extra thing I had to do was boil water for noodles closer to dinner time. Easy peasy! This slow cooker meal is not only easy, it takes only 5 ingredients! And 3 of those 5 ingredients go in the slow cooker to work their magic.

You can find the full recipe featured today on Someday I’ll Learn.

What’s your favorite meal to make when the temperature is rising?

Pinterest Inspiration

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Tree Planting Tips: Planning Your Garden

May 15, 2014 by

Tree Planting Tips Planning Your Garden

Anyone that heads out to a nursery to shop for a tree knows that these awkward, spindly bunch of branches has the potential to grow into something great. Adding a tree to your yard is a big commitment because the tree will serve to separate, bring together and stand in place for several years to come.

Tree planting is the first and most important step to adding a tree to your garden, so it is important that it is done right and that every home gardener know about the common mistakes to avoid.

We recently started adding trees to our community garden, including a Valencia orange and Anna apple, and after much research on the types of trees we were going to plant, the next step was planting the trees right!  [Read more…]

Filed Under: For the Home, Gardening, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

DIY Fruit Juice Dyed Watermelon Windsock

May 12, 2014 by

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This #KoolOff shop featuring a DIY Fruit Juice Dyed Watermelon Windsock tutorial has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

DIY Fruit Juice Dyed Watermelon Windsock

We are in the midst of a heat wave and the only thing we can think about these days is summer. But since we’re still in spring we’re doing a bit of summer prep. While working on our garden the kids decided they wanted to plant watermelon this year so I headed to the store to pick up some watermelon seeds.

While we were shopping at Walmart I ended up in the fruit juice aisle – trying to kill two birds with one stone and getting everything off my list. I noticed the larger ready-to-drink Kool-Aid bottles and grabbed some Tropical Punch to help me cool off while I was gardening. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY, Outdoor Crafts and Activities, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Working With Brands and Creating Great Video Content {SoFabCon 14 Video Speaker Notes}

May 10, 2014 by

Working with Brands and Creating Great Video Content

A few months ago I was selected as a speaker for SoFabCon14. The topic? Video! Now you may be wondering why the heck I’d be speaking on how to create great video content when I have hardly anything up on my YouTube channel so let me explain.

Over the past few months I’ve been working with Social Fabric as a Campaign Leader. I work with Social Fabric on selecting and working with bloggers on campaigns for clients. These campaigns include video blog opportunities.

Through my work with Social Fabric I’ve come to find out exactly what brands are looking for when they’re selecting vloggers to work with. So I’ve joined Sarah Mock of How I Pinch A Penny (a fabulous vlogger) to share our secrets to creating great video content brands are looking for. Video is what brands are looking for and what you need to be doing!

I’ve taken my knowledge behind the camera photographing  for campaigns as well as what I’ve learned as a campaign leader and paired it with what Sarah knows to create a great presentation on video. If you missed the presentation at #SoFabCon14 I’ve written a few notes down below on working with brands and creating great video content.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Technology, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

On-The-Go Breakfast Ideas for Busy Mornings

May 8, 2014 by

I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Stonyfield. I received coupons to facilitate my shopping trip and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

On-The-Go Breakfast Ideas for Busy Mornings stonyfield organic yotoddler yogurt pouches

Mornings can be pretty hectic in our home but with a good routine in place I’ve come to learn how to make things smoother. By planning ahead and utilizing some great on the go breakfast ideas for busy mornings, the hassle of figuring out what to prepare in the mornings has lessened.

Recently I was asked to check out Stonyfield’s new products – YoBaby, YoToddler, and YoKid yogurt pouches. These are the first refrigerated organic yogurt pouch available in stores and come in a variety of flavors.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Breakfast, Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Easy To Make Roasted Red Pepper Chicken and Linguine with White Wine Sauce

May 6, 2014 by

The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This #InspireMyDinner shop featuring Roasted Red Pepper Chicken and Linguine with White Wine Sauce has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

Easy To Make Roasted Red Pepper Chicken and Linguine with White Wine Sauce

Date nights are an important part of my relationship with my husband. They allow us to reconnect, chat about life, and spend time together without the kids. Whether we’re heading out for a night on the town or settling in at home for an easy to make meal together, the time we spend during date night helps us rekindle that spark.

Since we’ve finally decided we need to expand and are starting to look for potential houses to move into we’ve been on a tighter budget than normal. That means more meals at home… including date night meals. But that doesn’t mean I have to make some elaborate dish that takes hours to make.   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Date Night, Dinner, In the Kitchen, Parenting, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Easy Lunch Ideas: Eggplant French Bread Pizza

May 5, 2014 by

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Barilla®.

Eggplant French Bread Pizza

One thing I love about lunchtime on the weekend is the fact that I get to eat lunch with the kids and my husband and sit down together during the day – something that doesn’t happen often.  The family table we’ve created at dinnertime has helped us connect more as a family and truly enjoy each meals together but enjoying lunch together is like an added bonus.

Unlike dinners, lunches are usually sporadic last minute plans that just happen to come together. And that means I need a great arsenal of easy lunch ideas – like this delicious eggplant french bread pizza – ready to use when I don’t have a clue what I want to make.

Another great tool I have at the ready is a pantry full of Barilla® sauces and a garden full of veggies. For those times that I just need something the whole family will enjoy and eat but is still  nutritious, I grab my favorite Tomato & Basil sauce and start creating. You’ll taste the difference because Barilla Sauce has a real taste from real vegetables and all-natural, quality ingredients like vine-ripe tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and fragrant herbs.

Paired with a great salad, this pizza is the perfect weekend lunch. And the whole family will eat it! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dinner, Giveaways, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian Tagged With:


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