Valentine's Day Hanging Hearts Craft
Happy February! I am head over heels for all things Valentine's day, so get ready! Today I wanted to share a fun little V-day hanging hearts craft that will brighten up your home this month! They are darling, and super simple to make. It's a perfect activity for kids, or you can always grab some popcorn, turn on a chick flick, and enjoy a couple hours crafting to yourself:) Read on for directions!
Things You'll need:
Glue Stick
Scissors
Hole punch
Thick Twine
Colorful beads
Cute Paper (preferable several different V-day patterns and colors)
Here's how you can make your own hearts...
1. Cut out 4 hearts. They must be the exact same size. (I created a master heart to trace, and it worked out well). They can all be the same pattern of paper, or different.
2. Fold each heart in half.
3. Glue one half of the back of a heart, to another half of a heart, and continue gluing all of your hearts together until you've made a three dimensional heart. (There will be four sides to a giant heart.)
4. Lay your 3-D heart down flat, and punch a hole in the top, and the bottom.
5. Get a piece of twine (you can make it as short or as long as you want) and thread it through the top hole, leaving an even amount of twine on each side. Tie a square knot.
6. String your twine with colorful beads! As many as you want!
7. After stringing your beads, tie another square knot. Determine how long you want your heart to hang, and then tie another square knot at the very end of the twine.
8. Repeat Steps 5-7 on the lower hole of your heart.
9. Hang from a light fixture, window, ceiling, or fireplace!
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Pink Bedrooms
Lately, I’ve been noticing so many pretty pink bedrooms online! I’ve been loving them, which is surprising since I’m not really someone who likes a lot of pink. These rooms have me almost convinced to paint my room a blush color and add a couple of rose-colored throw pillows. Whether you are getting a nursery ready, wanting to change up your child’s room, or preparing to coat your own bedroom walls in pink, there are so many ways to bring pink into your bedrooms.
Pink Bedrooms
FOR THE NURSERY
via Country Living
Shop the look!
Similar crib, rug, and side table
via A Touch of Pink
Shop the look!
Similar rug and crib (Cribs come in pink too! Check them out here, here, and here).
via Project Nursery
Shop the look!
FOR YOUR KIDS
via The DIY Mommy
Shop the look!
via Kids Room Ideas
Shop the look!
via Ave Styles
Shop the look!
FOR YOU!
via Domino
Shop the look!
via Archer Interiors
Shop the look!
Similar pillows (here, here, and here) and nightstand
Shop the look!
Similar headboard (here and here) and nightstand
What do you think? Would you paint a room in your home pink?
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How to Roast a Pig on a Traeger Grill
With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, I thought I'd share the Ultimate BBQ idea. If you want to really impress your guests, try roasting a pig on your Traeger! This would for sure make your party something special and unique! Now, before I continue, if you're a vegeterian you should probably skip this post altogether. Fair warning!
My husband is a master griller/traegerer extroidanaire. That man could cook a shoe and it would taste delicious! His Traeger is like his fourth child. He and his buddies get together and geek out with their Traegers, and it's pretty hilarious. A few weeks ago they decided that they were going to roast a pig on the Traeger. I have to admit, I had my reservations. I'm by no means a vegetarian (I actually love meat!), but the thought of cooking a whole pig and seeing it's face while we did it felt a little cruel to me. Am I the only person out there that doesn't like to see a face with my meat?? Well, in the end, it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. I have to admit that the meat tasted OH MY WORD, AMAZING!!!! To die for, really.
If you want to mix things up and wow your guests this weekend, read on to learn the 5 easy steps to roasting a pig on your Traeger!!
1. Find a pig
You can get a pig one of two ways. A. Purchase a whole pig that is grill ready, directly from the butcher. This option is definitely the easiest route, but usually the most expensive as well. B. If you want to make it more of an experience from start to finish, you can go to a local live pig farm, and select your own pig. If you choose to do this, the pig will need to be delivered to the butcher one day prior to your pig roast. We purchased a 70lb. pig for $1.00 per pound from a local farmer, picked it up, and delivered it to our butcher, and he did the rest. (If you want a funny story, just ask my husband about the time he had to wrestle a pig to get it into the back of the truck! Ha! He still says it was worth it. Normally I don't think it's that complicated.)
2. Find a butcher
Whether you buy your pig directly from the butcher, or deliver it to him yourself--- find a butcher you trust. Ask your local farmers who they use, or find one in your area with good reviews.
3. Pick up the prepared pig the morning of your pig roast
Since the pork hasn't been injected with preservetives, you should never freeze it. Ideally it should be roasted the day of pick-up. To transport home, store it in a cooler with ice.
4. Prepare the pig with a rub and meat injector
Prepare your pig for the grill, by applying your favorite pork rub. You can buy them pre-made, or it's easy to concoct your own (brown sugar, mustard, paprika & salt are key to a delicious pork rub). Next, inject the meat with your favorite spices, broths, or brines. This will make your meat moist, flavorful, and tender. We used Dr. Pepper, Worchestershire sauce, brown sugar, and smoked paprika!
This Traeger meat injector will change your BBQ ing life!
5. Cook on the Traeger
Start the Traeger on Smoke with the lid open until a fire is established (4-5 minutes). Turn temperature to 250 degrees and preheat, lid closed, for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the pig on the grill (all hands on deck for this step!) and cook for 5 hours at 250 degrees. Increase temperature to 325 degrees to finish. Allow pig to cook for an additional 2 to 3 hours, or until probes in the pork shoulder and ham register an internal temperature of 205 degrees.
6. Enjoy!!
Once the pig is done cooking, carefully take it off the grill and let it sit for 30 minutes. Dig in!! We used the meat for sandwiches and tacos, and everything was absolutely delicious!
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How To Throw The Ultimate Football Party in 9 Easy Steps
Posted by
Kerry
on January 31, 2018
The Big Game is coming up quick and I know just a little bit about throwing the ultimate "Copyrighted Major Football Sports Event" party. Grab a pen and paper and prepare to take some notes and you will be yelling "I'm going to Disneyland!" after your friends and family congratulate you on an epic party.
1. Size matters. No matter what anyone says, you need to have a respectable television to watch the game on. I know many people get by nowadays with a laptop or tablet and that's totally cool, but if you invite me over to your house to watch the game on your tiny screen, I'm gonna throw it out the window. Good news is you can get an awesome 55" 4K TV at RC Willey from Sony for under $700, and, with the Winter Olympics coming up you can watch all that powder and sweat in the best resolution on the market today.
2. Seating. The Big Game lasts 3.5-4 hours long, and people usually show up early and stay late. You have to have a comfortable place for them to sit. Like I said earlier, if you hand me a metal folding chair for a 4-hour event, I'm throwing it out the window! RC Willey has a ton of great sectionals, sofas with a chaise, recliners, etc., and just like the Patriots, they will be good for years to come.
3. Don't forget the Antenna! My house is a streaming house but every once in a while we have to turn on a major network and a good antenna can bring you crystal-clear HDTV. Last year I had a bad antenna and every time someone walked in front of it the screen froze. My Dad threw me out the window.
4. Audio. Just about everyone has at least a 55" TV in their house these days which is pretty amazing since many of us grew up staring at a TV smaller than a pizza. But, these TVs don't really bring the theater experience that the future promised us. Why not? Because we all forgot about sound! You have to have a soundbar if you want to really immerse yourself in the game. You want to hear the cracks of helmets, the punishment of a hard tackle, and the soft tears of the opponent's quarterback when he gets sacked. There's a great soundbar from Polk that has wireless surround sound speakers making it easy to get into the zone.
5. Secondary TVs. I like to have TVs wherever my guests will convene. I keep a small one in the kitchen so people can grab a bite to eat or a drink and not miss any of the action. I also place a radio in the bathroom so my guests can keep tabs on the game while doing their business. And I've been thinking about putting a projector downstairs for the kids!
6. Food! Did you know a lot of people don't care about sports? It's true! But those people can't turn down a good excuse to eat salsa, guacamole, hot wings, french onion dip, etc. I like making grilled cheese's in a panini press, homemade pizza, and many dips with these small kitchen appliances.
7. Halftime show. Look, halftime shows can be a serious disappointment but not if you throw your own halftime show! We throw our annual karaoke halftime show where our guests come prepared to belt out their favorite song and hopefully don't have any wardrobe malfunctions. Also, once you own a karaoke machine you might find yourself walking around the house with your microphone telling your kids to do their chores or barking at the dog.
8. What about the children? Kids aren't used to their parents ignoring them for 4 hours which is why I usually bribe them with Nintendo games! You want to have some activities so the kids can have fun while you have fun or else you won't have fun. This is where a third tv comes into play. Set the kids up with some movies, snacks and video games and you'll easily have 4 hours of adult time to enjoy.
9. Clean up. Oh yeah, the worst part of throwing a party. Many of our furnishings come in a stain resistant fabric so start there if you are a party animal. If you need a new dishwasher or vacuum use the Big Game as an excuse to treat yourself and test it out. I'm a huge fan of Roombas.
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Quick Healthy Meals
In my quest to be healthier this year, I’ve been working my way through some quick, healthy meals I’ve found online. Some have been better than others, like most things, but there have been some winners as well! I’ve been using this list from the food network to help me come up with some fast and healthy meals. Check out some of my favorites and the ones I want to try below!
Quick Healthy Meals
Here are some of the meals I've tried and enjoyed so far -
Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Hummus and Grilled Vegetable Wrap
Gorgonzola and Butternut Squash Pizza
Wouldn't it be great to make it on this pizza oven? Even better!
Here are some of the recipes that are on my make next list!
Where do you find your healthy meals?
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How to Organize Your Home
Getting organized can be tricky and overwhelming if you plan on doing it all at once. Organizing your home and making sure your environment is organized will help you get other aspects of your life organized as well. I’ve been starting room by room and working my way through my house trying to get everything in order. While it’s taken me a lot longer than it should due to my lack of organization skills and a two-year-old running around, I’ve loved feeling more in control of my surroundings. If you’re wanting to organize your home but don’t know where to start, check out some of these tips below.
via Decoholic
Kitchen
Clean out your kitchen drawers. Any unused, broken, or duplicate gadgets should be thrown away or donated. Wipe down the inside of the drawers and use a flatware container to organize all your utensils.
Go through your pantry and throw away anything that is expired. Notice what you have and what you are missing so you can replace what you need. For more ideas on how to organize a pantry click here.
via Domino
Office
Find a place for all your electronic odds and ends. Find a basket or small box to hold your phone charger and headphones. You’ll never search the house looking for them again!
A power strip and cable-management boxes will help hide and organize all the wires under your desk. You’ll have a cleaner look and a trip-free desk area.
We’ve listed more ideas on how to organize your home office here.
via Style Me Pretty
Entryway
Make sure you have a space for everything that comes into your house - shoes, mail, purses, coats, etc. Hooks or a hall tree like this will help you create a clean, organized entry.
Clean out your coat closet. Donate coats, boots, hats, or gloves that are rarely used to create more room and an easier space to organize. Use bins or baskets to store items that are not in use and make sure there are enough hangers for anything that needs to be hung up. Make an effort to keep the floor of your closet clutter free.
Garage
Use the walls and hang up your athletic equipment. You can also hang up a pegboard to organize tools and gardening supplies.
via Victoria Plum
Bathroom
Clean out your medicine cabinet by getting rid of prescriptions or medications that are not used or expired. Wipe down all the shelves before you replace everything.
via HGTV
Bedroom
Organize your closet and donate anything that you don’t wear frequently or that doesn’t fit. Organize your shoes with a shoe rack making sure the shoes that are out of season or less used are in the back.
Clean off your dresser top. Have a unique bowl on hand so you can dump your pocket contents in it before bed. Just make sure you clean out the bowl weekly!
Throughout your home, get rid of what you don’t use or need and make sure there is a spot for everything in your house. If you do that, you should have a more organized home. (Even if, like me, it doesn’t last long!)
What tips do you have for organizing your home?
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Interior Design Tips: Dining Room
Whether you have a room specifically set aside for your dining table or a small dining nook, you can create the perfect space for every meal. With just a few small changes here and there, get ready to transform your dining room!
Interior Design Tips: Dining Room
via RC Willey
Obviously, you need a table for your dining room. Before you get your heart set on the shape of a table, look at the shape of your room. Circle and square tables are a good fit for smaller rooms or open layouts while long, narrow rooms fit rectangular tables best.
When it comes to seating, don’t feel like you need to match your table and chairs exactly - unless you want to of course! Think outside the box. Eclectic chairs collected over time, benches, or even a sofa could replace a traditional dining chair.
via Style Me Pretty
While rugs aren’t always necessary if you do choose to have one under your table make sure it is big enough that your chair pulled back won’t get caught on the edge. Not only will you find it annoying over time, it could be a safety hazard. Rugs with patterns are a better option than light-colored solids for hiding spills or stains.
via RC Willey
If there is enough space, a hutch or buffet is a great way to bring in extra storage. A dining table often is a multipurpose space, so not only will you be able to store extra tablecloths or flatware in a hutch, it can be a good place to stash whatever project in on your table during meals.
via Design Sponge
Accessorize your space! An interesting light fixture over the table, a unique centerpiece, and fun wall art will make your dining room reflect your personality more than anything else. Find something that you love and include it in your decor!
How have you decorated your dining room?
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8 Ways to Be Happier This Year
1. Make Time For Meaningful Connection
The happiest people are the ones who give priority in life to strengthening and nurturing their relationships with family and friends. Studies have shown that people in committed, healthy marriages or relationships have a higher life satisfaction. Make it a goal to connect every day- whether it's in person, facetime, or chatting on the telephone on your commute home. David Myers, a Psychologist says, “Intimacy, commitment, and support do, for most people, pay emotional dividends."
2. Gratitude Practice
I know I've written about the importance of a daily gratitude practice before. Surprise! It's such a great, healthy thing to do each day! It doesn't matter how you do it- write things down on paper, meditate, or talk about what you're grateful for around the dinner table each night--- just figure out how practicing gratitude works best for you, and do it! You'll start noticing the little things, be more appreciative, and become a better person for it.
3. Meditate/Pray
Meditation and mindfulness are all the rage lately. Everyone is doing it! Praying to a higher power and working on strengthening your spirituality can be beneficial for everyoe, whether you are religious or not.
According to Shawn Anchor, “research even shows that regular meditation can permanently rewire the brain to raise levels of happiness”. Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical school, also found in his research that meditation had a positive effect in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive thinking, and hostility. (via https://liveanddare.com/happy-life-habits/)
4. Spend Time in Nature
Studies have linked spending time in the great outdoors with better overall health, higher levels of vitality and well being, and less anxiety and depression. So breathe in the fresh air and make it a habit to get ouside for at least twenty minutes a day!
5. Write In a Journal
Did you know that writing in a journal has so many more benefits than just keeping a record for your posterity? It turns out, it's actually very good for your brain! And soul! Some of the benefits include: aids in the healing process, sparks creativity, improves memory and comprehension, evokes mindfulness, helps you set and achieve goals, improves your writing and communication skills, and scientists are even thinking it can strengthen your IQ!
6. Serve Others
It's no surprise that when you take time to look outside of yourself, there comes a level of fulfilment and happiness that is unmatched. According to Psychology Today, "When we help others we feel happy. There appears to be a direct correlation with overall well-being and giving our time, money or other resources to a cause that we are passionate about. Studies suggest that people who volunteer report better health and more happiness than people who do not volunteer."
7. Be Present
In this world full of technology and distractions, one of our biggest obstacles can simply be learning how to put down the phone so that we can pay attention. Being all there and fully present in our own lives can be truly challenging, but choosing to be deliberate in the way we manage ourselves can make all the difference when it comes to our overall happiness.
In "Hands Free Life", Rachel Macy Stafford says, "Making it a daily practice to be fully present while in the company of loved ones meant the difference between intimately knowing and superficially knowing the people I love. It meant the difference between living each day catching glimpses of joy or just barely survivinhg each day without even a smile."
via linkedin
8. Learn Something New Once a Month
Never stop learning! Challenge yourself to learn or try something new at least once a month. This will not only keep you sharp mentally, but you could pick up some new hobbies that bring a lot of joy and satisfaction to your life.
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Low-Calorie Recipes
I have been on the hunt for some good low-calorie recipes. It can be a little bit hard to find a good recipe that doesn’t sacrifice taste in the name of being healthy, but I’ve found a couple of food blogs that seem to be the solution that I thought I’d share with you!
Low-Calorie Recipes
One thing I like about this site is you can pick what kind of meal you want. They are all clearly labeled Vegetarian, Paleo, Low Carb, Gluten Free, etc. So far, the recipes that I’ve tried have been pretty good!
There is a huge variety of food types that you’ll be sure to find something that sounds good to you on this site.
While not every recipe on this site is lightened up, there are plenty of healthy options available. Pretty much every recipe on this site is delicious!
Where do you find your healthy, low-calorie meals?
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Tips for Buying Dining Room Furniture
So you're in the market for a new dining table and chairs. While it's super exciting, it can also be a little daunting if you aren't 100% sure about what you want. How do you know kind of table to get? Do you go with hardwoods, softwoods, or laminates? And what kind of shape? Square, round, or rectanble? And then there are the chairs! Do you do wood, leather, or fabric upholstery?? So. Many. Choices! Here are a handful of tips to help steer you in the right direction when it comes to purchasing a dining room table and chairs that will be right for you and your family.....
TABLES:
- If the table has a leaf, make sure it fits snuggly.
- Hardwoods, Softwoods, or laminates? Depends on your lifestyle and budget. Hardwoods are definitely more durable than softwoods, while laminates are definitely the least expensive option.
- Square, round, or rectangle? It completely depends on the room, how many people you need to be able to seat, and also your personal preference. Round tables make the room feel a lot bigger, and create an intimate, warm atmosphere. Square and Rectangle tables are great at making a grand presence in a large room.
- Dining tables generally stand 29 to 30 inches high.
CHAIRS:
- Wood, fabric upholstered, or leather chairs? Wood seats to tend last longer, and are a heck of a lot easier to clean than upholstered chairs. Leather chairs (real or imitation) are low maintenance and easy to clean. Ultrasuade, cotton blends or a commercial fabric are your best bets if you want to go with upholstery. Avoid fabrics like chenille and velvet, as they will show wear.
- Rungs between the legs on a chair add stability.
- Chairs shouldn't wiggle when you sit on them, or bend in the back.
- Sit down on upholstered chairs to make sure it's comfortable and you don't feel like you're bottoming out.
- 18 or 19 inches is an ideal height for a dining chair seat. As a rule of thumb, try to allow a minimum of 12 inches between the top of the seat and the top of the table.
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