Jingle Bell Shadow Box! Guest Posting over at {i love} my disorganized life

Hey! Happy Friday! 

Are you decked out for the Holidays yet? We finally got the decorations up and finished this week! Whew--what a project! But, I love the coziness of it!

Today I am guest posting on the 25 Days of Christmas Series at {I Love} My Disorganized Life, where Rachel is featuring projects from other bloggers!

I created a cute little shadow box--perfect for keeping or gifting! To find out how I did it--just click the picture!

There is also a great give-away Rachel is hosting too! 

Have a great weekend!

One Outdoor Space, 3 Different Ways {Guest Post}

I'm thrilled to have another guest post today on Crazylou! I love exposing my readers to new people that can share great tips and ideas! Enjoy!

There are a lot of factors to be taken into account when choosing your outdoor décor. Along with the obvious considerations of colors and styles, it’s also important to think about how you like to use your patio or porch. Add your climate and budget into the mix, and it can be hard to settle on anything! But don’t get bogged down in the details; one of the best ways to get started is to think about the mood you want to create in your outdoor space. Once you’ve decided on that, you can choose pieces that fit with your vision as well as your practical concerns. Take some inspiration from these very different, but equally appealing spaces:

Fun and Vibrant

This style includes the perfect choices for a hot climate and a laid-back atmosphere, and is a great setup for parties and outdoor dinners. Adirondack chairs and a thatched umbrella keep the feeling relaxed and casual, while a colorful rug and ceramic planter add energy and warmth into the space. 1. Adirondack Chair 2. Thatched Umbrella 3. 4. Outdoor Rug

Sleek and Modern

If you prefer a contemporary look, then pieces with simple lines and graphic patterns are what you’re looking for. In this version, coppery outdoor sconces play off the wood frame of the uniquely shaped folding chairs (which are perfect for quick storage if rain comes your way). A sunny garden stool provides a pop of color, as well as a place to set drinks or planters. A boldly striped umbrella finishes off the look, and can be placed inside a simple outdoor table for the perfect dining setup. 5. Wall Lantern 6. Ceramic Garden Stool 7. Striped Umbrella 8. Folding Chair

Elegant and Traditional

For a soft, French country effect, use pieces with organic, feminine lines and lighter colors. The sage green hue and vine pattern on this outdoor rug provide the perfect base for a set of weathered wicker seating. A pretty wreath plays on the green of the rug and adds in an accent of lavender tones, while the classical urn-shaped planter would be perfect paired with a topiary or small lemon tree. 9. Lavender Wreath 10. Outdoor Rug 11. Planter 12. Wicker Loveseat

 Dagmar Obert is a designer for Balsam Hill with over two decades of experience transforming homes into spaces that reflect comfort and elegance. Surrounded by family and friends, Dagmar takes delight in turning her own home into a venue where wonderful occasions are made more memorable. More of her how-to guides and inspiration articles on decorating and entertaining can be found here. You can follow her on Pinterest and Houzz.

 

 

So what kind of style do you fit into? I tend to lean towards the fun and vibrant style for my outdoor living areas. Hope you picked up a few tips today! Thank you Dagmar for stopping by!

 

 



Immune Boosting Tips for Cold and Flu Season

I've got a special guest visiting today to give us tips on the Cold & Flu season. Let's see what we can learn!

Statistics show that roughly 80 percent of the population will catch at least one cold during the cold and flu season. The statistics for the flu are a little lower due to the flu shot. 

However, a flu shot does not guarantee you will not get the flu – each year scientist’s develop the flu shot based on three of the most “popular” strains of the flu virus. If you happen to catch one of the viruses that are not included in the flu shot then you are going to get the flu. 

Another factor to include in your fight against colds and the flu are the age of your child. You taught them to share and they love to share everything, especially the germs they bring home from school!

By boosting your immune system, you should be able to fight off those nasty cold and flu germs with a few simple tips. Even if your children are grown or you have no children, you are still exposed to germs every time you go out in public or someone enters your home that has been out in public where germs are spread.

Tips to Boost Your Immune System

∙        Eating a well-balanced diet, following the food pyramid is a great place to start. You already know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and a pastry is not the type of breakfast I am talking about. Your  lunch should have protein, dairy, vegetables and a fruit. For example, a chicken salad with a piece of fruit and a 6-ounce glass of milk is a perfect lunch and the same applies to dinner. If you need a snack, veggie sticks and peanut butter or broccoli with a little onion dip is a good choice.

∙        Drink plenty of water, water is necessary to keep your cells hydrated so they can help in the elimination process of toxins in your body. A build of toxins (which most people have) is a breeding ground for those nasty germs that cause the flu and colds.

∙        Get enough sleep while you sleep your body recharges itself. People underestimate the power of sleep. A lack of sleep puts a strain on the immune system.

∙        Exercise is also important. It does not have to be a strenuous workout that you dread, it can be something as simple as taking an evening walk.

∙        Keep your stress level under control. Stress is one of the first things to cause your immune system to break down. Learn to meditate, take a yoga class, and ask for help with household chores, at work or whatever you need help with.

Be sure to include a daily vitamin and mineral supplement just to make sure you are getting the amount of vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy. If you start to get the sniffles or any cold or flu symptoms start treating them right away, this can cut down on the severity and length of time you have the cold or flu.

Tammy Mahan has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years. In her free time, she writes articles for Healthline.Com. 

Jewelry Craft Ideas for Kids

Hi! How's your Wednesday going? I have a treat for you today! I have a guest post today and I think you will really enjoy what she is sharing with us today! 

 

Much like their mother, my daughters are crafting maniacs. They have their own drawers packed with supplies and get excited at the mere prospect of a visit to our local craft store. They also love to spend time trolling the internet for craft tutorials. Unfortunately, they often happen upon tutorials we have to pass on, simply because they’re not child friendly.  A lot of jewelry tutorials require manual dexterity and fine motor skills far beyond the capabilities of young children. These three tutorials are perfect for kids ages 7-12 and require very little parental help!

Friendship Bracelets

After summers end, newly made friends often head off to different schools. Friendship bracelets are a great way for children to celebrate personal relationships without resorting to Facebook.

My girls’ favorite friendship bracelet is woven with many different colors. A wonderful tutorial on how to create this fabulous bracelet can be found at Modcloth. I really love the variety of colors that can be used so that each bracelet is unique and special. 

Bottle Cap Necklaces

Many of you are probably thinking to yourself, “Great, let’s put trash around our children’s’ necks.” But let me tell you, there are some great bottle cap necklace tutorials around the web that look fantastic. You could always buy some on Etsy, but what’s the fun in that?

This tutorial from Compulsive Craftiness is my favorite. If you don’t have a stash of bottle caps, you can get them here. I would avoid any bottle caps that say Corona or Samuel Adams unless you plan on covering up the brand name. You wouldn’t want people thinking that your child is an alcoholic.

Personal Tip: For attaching the jump rings, I highly recommend Wubbers jewelry pliers. We use them for a lot of different crafts and they’re fabulous because they don’t mar the delicate metals that are used in jewelry making. 

Washer Necklaces

This is one of the most kid-friendly jewelry tutorials that I’ve found. These adorable washer necklaces need very little adult supervision. You can find the tutorial at Small for Big.

This craft uses metal washers, nail polish, string and seed beads with a result that is way too adorable to pass up. The only place little ones may need help is in threading the string through the needle. These necklaces leave so much room for creativity. My daughters love them!

I hope your kids enjoy these fabulous jewelry crafts as much as mine did! Letting children take charge in their own projects and express themselves creatively really promotes a strong sense of self-esteem as well as pride in their work.

Claire Thomas is a DIY fiend who has yet to meet a tutorial she can’t tackle. When she’s not crafting, she and her nana can be found scouring estate sales for the next big Antiques Roadshow find.

What kind of crafty project have you done with your kids lately? Please share--I'm always looking for ideas.

Guest Post - Live Your Love Outloud --Bath Bombs

I'm so excited to introduce you to my final blog friend that is helping me out during my "European Vacation!" I'd love for you to welcome Heather from Live Your Love Outloud. I think you'll love her! She is sharing a project that, well...just read on and you'll see!

 

 

 

CRAFTastic. Bath Bombs that BOMBED!

HI! Wild Mama Heather Novak here. I’m visiting y'all while Cindy Lou Who is living it up on vacation. I figured I would help you all miss her even more by posting about my craftastic disaster with DIY Bath Bombs. You are welcome.

It absolutely kills me to fork over a chunk of change for something I can make myself. With better ingredients. And just the way I like it. I also love anything spa and pampering and have made scrubs and what not for eons. I am very into aromatherapy for everything and so I’m ready to tackle The Bomb. The Bath Bomb! Instead of $4 for a chemical and preservative laden bath confection, I found this recipe on Pop Sugar quite by accident. It looked so simple even I could manage it.

1 C baking soda

1/2 C cornstarch

1/2 C Epsom Salt

4T cream of tartar

3/4 T water *

2t essential oil(s) your choice

2 1/2 t oil (I used olive oil)

Directions were to mix all liquids together and all dry ingredients together separately before combining. They measured everything in ounces, so my mathphobic self had to go online and translate the ounces into cups, you’re welcome. I’m in love with the combination of peppermint and citrus, so I chose Peppermint, Bergamot, Grapefruit and Chamomile essential oils for the bath bombs. If I did these again I think I would puree mint from my garden for color instead of using dye, but for this first go around I used my Wilton color in just a green.

For starters, this is the first time I’ve thought about really ‘staging’ my ingredient pictures. Since I am a guest here at Cindy’s I want to do a supercalifragilisticexpialadocious job. I realized I might have the UGLIEST measuring cups that ever lived and I will be thrifting for cuter ones ASAP.

So here are all the pretty ingriendents. And the pretty bowls. And the mixing process.

I thought the directions messed up the water amount, as I had to add more water (and oil)

to get everything damp enough to shape and hold together. I might have been wrong. I also do not have an ornament dealio to shape perfect balls so I did muffin tins. But they wouldn’t come out. So I scooped the gunk out and made roundish shapes by hand. It is handmade, right? No need for perfection. Fragrant lumps of spa like possibility is good enough, right?

Then when I went back through the kitchen I saw to my HORROR they were all spread out.

Maybe I did add too much water/oil (about 1/2 cup extra from recipe). UGH. I think if I mixed all together

 and then waited ten or fifteen minutes...it might have gotten to a better consistency. I will try that next time instead of adding more water....which I think activated the fun too quickly. I frantically started trying cupcake tin liners, adding more baking soda....UGH.

Finally I just had to take a break and read a book (Wives Behaving Badly By Elizabeth Buchan) and eat those new Goldfish Puffs. Awesome.

I love the idea of crafting and always keep trying, but this was a potential disaster! I always picture the outcome being Martha Stewart, but it ends up, more often than not, more like FOURTH GRADER. UGH. Like my homemade sock Hobby Horse Adventure and wretched DIY body butter take 2 disaster. (I got a dermatologist involved....) But I digress.

It turned out that after mixing more baking soda in by hand, the bombs got better firmer texture. I did the quick dry of one hour in the oven at 250 degrees rather than waiting out an overnight dry time to see how it worked out. They worked out! My littles enjoyed one in their bath, and John my husband said it broke apart and acted like others I had purchased in the past. So the Pop Sugar DIY Bath Bomb went from BOMB to THE BOMB. I will be making these again SOON. Want one?

Heather

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Tasty Tuesday -- Guest Post, Melaine from Chitownstarconnections

This addition of Tasty Tuesday is being presented to you from another blog friend of mine, Melanie. She is doing a twist on my normal Tasty Tuesday post, but I think you will like the change of pace. Please welcome Melanie!

 

Hi! This is Melanie Christy of Chitownstarconnections. I am honored to submit to Cindy’s blog this week. I pondered what I would submit. Food?  But looking through my stuff, I found the perfect submission. Recently I had been sent a book that follows what Cindy’s blog represents.  It was humorous, yet also touching. If you are one of the millions who are disciples of the lifestyle gurus, this is your book.

Jen Lancaster is a local author who has made good. Her style reminds me a lot of the late Erma Bombeck , but with a touch of style for the milennium.  Previously, she has told of her life in Chicago and her move to the burbs. I am given a lot of books to read, some really touch me and others just seem they are no more than hard luck testimonies.  These authors just feel the need to tell their sob stories.   The Tao of Martha is a witty tale of a suburban woman who pledges a year of her life to the high deity- Martha Stewart.  But just as everything didn’t go well for Ms Stewart , the same goes for Jen. 

Readers will laugh hysterically at her holiday disasters. Not since Mary Richards parties on the MTM show, has a hostess failed this much. Halloweeners who wont come to the door and a Fourth of July party where both hosts get soused.  Just because some people try to follow directions , doesn’t necessarily mean that the project will turn out like the picture in the book.   This is the way that a kitchen works and this is the way that life works. 

But don’t be fooled that Jen’s book is all fun and games.  There is some serious stuff going on here too.  As a middle aged woman, Jen confronts her discovery of a lump in her breast.  She discusses her thoughts about cancer with wit and contempt.  My favorite part of the book is the love story between Jen and her best friends.  It will tear your heart out when she finally has to deal with the death of her dog , Maisy.  Animal lovers will find this part of the book touching as well. 

Whether she is crying over the death of her beloved Maisy, trying to understand her husband, or singing the praises of the glories of zucchini, Jen brings a little humor to your summer.  She is today’s every woman.  She laughs at things that others may not. 

A bit about me: Melanie Ferguson Christy moved to Chicago six years ago. Although she has appeared in several feature films and television series, she is now more known as the CEO and Editor of ChitownstarConnections.  Her blog covers the high profile events of the Windy City and features fun celebrity interviews. 

Guest Post -- Part 2 DIY Wall Art

In part one of this DIY wall art mini-series, we learned how to find great photos (FOR FREE) on flickr and download them onto our computers. Need a refresher? Click here!

On to part two of this schnazzy little tutorial: Printing & Framing

PRINTING:

1. If you are going for a standard size, say 8x10, you can order your print from any of the standard choices (Shutterfly, CVS, etc.). If you want to get a little fancy, go for a matte finish for a slightly different, more artsy look. 

2. I decided to get all complicated and downloaded square photos so I needed square prints. If your photo is not a square but you would like it to be, order an 8x10 and trim it down to an 8x8. If your photo IS in fact a square you have a few different options. 

• Shutterfly Scrapbook Page- It sounds super fancy but really it is just a square print. Click on this link and choose "Print Your Digital Scrapbook." Basically it gives you a blank "scrapbook page." Just plug your photo in and you are in biz. This will run you $3.49. (They also have a 12x12 option which is $6.99). This is where I ordered my prints from and I was very pleased with the quality. Highly recommend!
• RitzPix- I have not ordered from them so I can not attest to their quality but they do offer 5x5 square prints as well as a larger variety of scrapbook page sizes.
• You can order 4x4 photos from your phone using a slick little app called PostalPix (app love!). 4x4 prints start around 30 cents.

3. NOTE: Before ordering, make sure you have your frames picked out! Frames for square prints are getting more popular but can still be a little tricky to find. 


Which brings us to a couple of tips on...

 FRAMING:

1. Download the Michaels app or grab a coupon from your craft store's flyer if you are not a super-appy person. Because we have a Michaels nearby I have been known to make a trip to Michaels to buy one frame (if I am going that way anyway) and make another trip another day with another coupon. Sometimes those coupons are so good they are worth it! This is where I found the frames you saw in the first part of this mini-series.

2. I have found classic plain black frames at the DOLLAR STORE. Yup! The quality wasn't fabulous but for $1 they will do. Great for the kiddos' rooms or a play room.

Once your prints arrive, slap those babies in their frames and get them up on the wall and TADA... you just DIY'd yourself some wall art. They make FABulous gifts, too! Enjoy! XO

Tasty Tuesday! Guest Post- Busy Mom's Helper

Hey, ya'all! I'm Danielle from over at Busy Mom's Helper, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here with you today!!! I want to share with you one of my favorite pasta recipes. Now, funny back-story: growing up, I never tried Margherita anything (pizza, pasta, etc.) because I assumed it had alcohol in it. Ya, I know, pretty naive. Anywho, the first time I tried Margherita pizza, I was hooked. So delicious! Of course I had to try it with other foods, too, thus leading to this delicious Mama's Margherita Pasta.

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it is Just. So. Easy. Seriously! Most of the ingredients are things I keep stocked up on, and when I have a busy night (well, busier), I can just quickly pull this together and we have a nice, filling, delicious home-cooked meal instead of ordering pizza. Again. For like the third time that month. Ya, I have the pizza delivery on speed dial.

Ingredients

1 box (about 13 oz) Penne Pasta noodles

1/4 cup Butter

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

8 oz. Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

1/4 cup Basil

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded

1/3 cup Romano Cheese, shredded

Directions

Cook pasta according to directions on box. Drain then return to saucepan and keep warm.

In a medium-large skillet, melt the Butter. Add the Garlic and cook about 30 seconds, or until soft and beginning to brown.

Add the Tomatoes and Basil and cook another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the Pasta and Cheeses. Stir until all combined and serve while still warm.

Thank you so much for allowing me to guest post. Hope you have a wonderful summer!

Guest Post: ellie from Creative Geekery! DIY Wall Art



I've got a treat for you today! My blogger friend ellie is here to share a great way to find fabulous pictures and make them into Wall Art. Please welcome ellie from Creative Geekery!

 

 

I have several funky photos (that I did not take!) framed around my house. Recently a friend asked me where I got them from and I explained that they were totally DIY. I usually get a little nervous anytime someone says those three little letters (DIY) so trust me, if I can pull this off, you can, too! Today I will introduce you to a website called flickr! There you can spend hours perusing beautiful photos that users upload for your enjoyment. In this post, we will focus on finding the art. In the second part of this mini-series, we will talk about getting it printed and framed for the least amount of money possible!

a few of my "creations"

So here we go!

PART ONE: Finding the art.

1. Go to www.flickr.com. One thing I love about this site is that there is no need to create an account unless you want to upload your own photos. Keep this post open in one window and have flickr in another so you can follow the instructions.


2. Click in the little SEARCH box in the upper right hand corner and type in what you are looking for. In this example, I searched for a merry go round. Click the little magnifying glass in the SEARCH box.

3. Once the results come up, click on the ADVANCED SEARCH link to the right of the SEARCH button. Do not skip this step or you will end up possibly falling in love with a photo that will not work for this project (i.e. it will look great on your screen but not in print).

4. Check the box next to "Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content." This will ensure that you will only be choosing from photos that you will be able to download and print. Many photos are totally copyrighted and even though this project is for personal use, the photographer may have disabled downloading to protect his or her work.

5. Now comes the fun part: your search results! Flickr lets you sort your results three different ways. Two of the three come in super handy: relevant and interesting. Try clicking on each to see what type of photos come up. I have had great results with both depending on what I am looking for.

6. Once you find the photo that you like, click on it and then click on VIEW ALL SIZES (up and to the right of the photo).

7. Click on the largest size option that is available. "Original" is the best if it is an option! 

8. Right-click (or control-click if you don't have a right mouse button) and download that puppy! Now it is saved on your computer and you are ready for STEP TWO. Printing and framing. Woot woot! 

Bonus Tip: I really wanted a photo of Grand Central Station in our home because we LOOOVE our trips to the city so much. I found one that I LOVED and then decided to see what else that flickr user had posted. I ended up with super cool pictures of completely different things (flowers and a bumblebee, a ferris wheel, and the coast line) that work well together because they are all the same photographic style and feel. To view all of the photos from one artist/user click on the user's name (below the photo you will see "from Joe Schmoe"... click on Joe Schmoe).

Have fun! XO, ellie

Guest Posting over at Hungry Little Girl

I'm so excited!!

Today I'm a guest over at Hungry Little Girl! I love Jutta's blog and her recipes are amazing! I also love her positive attitude! I hope one day I can join in on the fun of the Surprise Recipe Swap!

So, what are you waiting for? Click on over to her site, check it out and find my latest creation: SKINNY POP CUPCAKES!

 

 

 

Thanks Jutta for having me over today!