Are my children the only kids on planet earth who seem to need a snack at least every hour of the day?  I could spend two thousand dollars a month on snacks at Costco alone and I swear it would never be enough for my kids' appetites!  If you're sick of giving your kids the traditional goldfish crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks, and other processed junk like I am, you have to try making these energy bites!  I tweaked a recipe I found for these little babies, and they've proven to be the perfect healthy(ish) pick-me-up for my kids, and myself!  I literally have to ration these because we all love them so much!  They take about 10 minutes to whip up, and you'll be glad you did!  

NO-BAKE DELICIOUS ENERGY BITES

1.5 cups dry oatmeal
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes ( to toast coconut simply spread coconut on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, turing every few minutes)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp Honey
1/2 cup chocolate chips (you can substitute craisins or raisins if chocolate isn't your thing)
1 tsp vanilla 
1 Tbsp chia seeds

DIRECTIONS:

1. Dump all ingredients into a large bowl.

2. Stir it all together throroughly.  If it's too dry, you can add more honey or peanut butter, and if mixture is too wet, just add some more oats!  Once mixed, chill in refrigerator for 20 minutes or so (this makes the dough more workable).   

3. Take chilled dough and roll into little 1-2" balls (I like to make mine pretty hearty, like golf balls).  Pop them in a tupperware, stick them in the refrigerator, and anytime you need a sweet little pick-me-up you've got a snack waiting for you!

* I usually double this recipe because they get eaten so fast! 
** If you want to make these even healthier, you can add 1/2 cup ground flax seed and decrease oats to 1 cup.  
Original recipe found on Gimme Some Oven.  

Do you like the look of a tile backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom but your rental agreement prohibits you from making major changes to the space you're living in?  Or maybe you just aren't ready to commit to tile and need a temporary fix for a room in your home?  Smart tiles just might prove to be your solution.  I've been hearing about these over the past few months and I'm so intrigued!  They are simply peel and stick gel tiles for your wall.  And yes, putting them up is as easy as it sounds.  No glue, no adhesives, and no grout needed!  You simply buy the tiles in sheets and cut them with scissors to fit your space, peel off the back, and stick them to your wall!  

They are incredibly lightweight (only .125 inches thick), relatively inexpensive, easy to install over smooth surfaces or already existing tile, resistant to heat and humidity, and can be removed once you are ready for a change without damaging the wall!  We are currently renting and this product sounds like a total no-brainer to me! I need to get my hands on some of this stuff.

Have any of you tried smart tiles out??  I am dying to get some feedback!   Here are some photos from their gallery--- don't you think they look like real tile??

all images via smart tiles

*No, this is in no way a sponsored blog post- I just think these look really cool and wanted to share!  Check out the Smart Tiles site for more information!

 via domino

 Valentine's day was a couple days ago now, but my kitchen still looks like cupid threw up all over it (seriously I just need to throw all of these sugar treats away because I'm the only one eating them)! At our house, we kind of end up celebrating V-day all month long, so I'm going to keep spreading Valentine cheer and dedicate this blog post to the color red. 

For starters, I really like the color red.  I love red lipstick and red nail polish, and I have more red handbags, shoes, and necklaces than most women should.  But I'll be honest.  As much as I love the color red, I've always shied away from incorporating it into any decor scheme in my home.  Too much red (ie: an excess of red walls, red furniture, red kitchen cupboards, etc ) kind of stresses me out!  Is anyone else with me on this?!  It's mostly subconscious I think, but I guess I'm typically drawn to cooler, more calming interiors that are more conducive to relaxation.  

Let me tell you, there are a lot of ugly red rooms floating around the internet!  I'm pretty sure my blood pressure spiked just combing through them!  After a lot of digging, I've finally found some red interiors that might make me rethink my "say no to red interiors" stance.  These are tasteful and beautiful, without being too annoying and overbearing.

What do you think about decorating with the color red?  What are your tricks to help keep it classic without going over the top?

via pinterest

pinterest via better homes & gardens

United Artworks via pinterest 

via pinterest

inspired by this via pinterest 

lonny magazine via Mimi + Meg

Better Homes & Gardens via pinterest

Laurel Bern Interiors via pinterest 

via pinterest 

Also, how do you feel about decorating with hearts?  Check these photos out!  

Happy love week! I think Valentine's day is one of my very favorite holidays ( I know I say that when every holiday rolls around, but I really do adore V-day).  I love the fact that an entire day (or in our house, the entire week) is dedicated to celebrating love and all of the important relationships in your life, eating way too many sugar cookies and candy, making Valentine's, and decorating with red and pink!  And don't even get me started on how much I love hearts!  

If you're looking for some fun ideas to celebrate this year, just remember that Valentine's day falls on a Sunday- and nothing beats a delicious sweethearts Sunday brunch!  My mom threw the most darling Valentine's day brunch last year, complete with the most mouthwatering heart-shaped cinnamon rolls, bacon, pancakes, strawberries (chocolate covered and cut into hearts for the yogurt parfait), and scotcheroo party favors!  I'm totally going to try to recreate this exact menu for my husband and kiddos this weekend.... you should too!  Here are some photos to get you inspired.....

Also, check these links out for some fun Valentine week ideas....

These are the very best sugar cookies ever .  Make them right now!  

A Man's Guide to Valentine's Day

Want to make a sweet gift for your significant other? Here's how to make a heart art travel log!

Our Reno, NV, RC Willey was recently featured on KTVN CBS regarding our awesome selection of 4K televisions for your Big Game party or family movie night! Watch the video now!

I was never much of a holiday decorator (besides Christmas, of course)...... and then I had babies.  And it all changed.  I don't know if it's my inner domestic mama coming out or what, but all of the sudden I can't get enough of things like garlands, wreaths, and little holiday decorations.  My kids get so excited about it!  They make holidays so much fun!  I'm not the craftiest girl in the world, but if I see something at the store that I think I can make myself (for a heck of a lot cheaper), I'm all about doing it on my own.  

I'd seen a bunch of Valentine's day garlands around, that were cute, but way overpriced.  I decided to forego buying one and try my hand at making a few instead. This was so ridiculously easy.  It probaby took me an hour to put together (while watching tv), and the whole thing literally cost less than $1.00.  For the amount of time, money & effort involved I think they turned out pretty darn cute!  Now I just need to find somewhere to hang them up!

Here's what you'll need:

-Colored felt (you can pick a sheet up for about 15 cents at the craft store)
- Scissors
- String
- A needle
 

Simply cut out hearts of all shapes and sizes, and letters if you want to do a phrase (I just free-handed them- they definitely aren't perfect but I still like them).  Once your hearts are cut out, thread your needle and string the hearts and letters to create a garland!  Bam.  You've got yourself a cute little V-day decoration to put up on the wall.