DIY Apple Monogram {Door Hanging}

You guys had a chance to check out the big Front Porch Makeover, right?  The one at my Mom and Dad's house?

Ok, good.

Then, I'm sure you'll remember the focal point of the front door, right?

Our DIY Apple Monogram!!

The original plan was to make this really cute apple wreath that I had found on Pinterest.  

So, it started out like this.  

Then, we quickly realized we would be about 5 bushels of apples too short.  And, at $9.99 for the large size bags, we weren't willing to head back for more.  Even with our 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon, we knew that would be more than we were willing to spend on this project.

We knew we wanted to use the apples somehow, we just weren't sure how.

Then, I remembered we had picked up a big letter "S" at Hobby Lobby to paint and hang somewhere on the porch.  

I arranged the apples on the letter, and Mom and I knew this would achieve the look we were going for!

Helpful Hint:  Arrange the apples on your letter, then snap a photo.  Use the photo as your guide to remember how and where you placed the apples.

We spray painted the "S" black.  We knew there would be places that would show through and wouldn't be filled in.  The backdrop for our Apple Monogram was the front door, which we had painted black.  So, we figured the best way to make the blank spaces blend in, and the apples stand out, would be painting the "S" black.  

Once it was dry, my Mom started to hot glue the apples onto the letter, using the picture as her guide.

It didn't take long at all and the letter was completely filled with apples!

Then, all we had left to do was hang it up! 

What do y'all think?

I think this is my favorite part of the whole makeover and now I want one for my house!  

Which means I need a green room...

Wanna make a DIY Apple Monogram for yourself?  All you need is 2 bags of large size green plastic apples.  One bag of small sized apples.  And, your letter!  We bought all of these things at Hobby Lobby.  This was a really simple, quick and reasonable project that makes a big impact!  

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great weekend!

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Yummi Pouches - {Paisley's New Favorite Thing}

Have you guys ever seen those little squeezable yogurt, fruit things for toddlers?  <<---That made sense, right?

You know. Those things that your kids love, but they cost like $3 a pop!?? Not to mention the fact that you have no idea what kind of ingredients and preservatives are stuffed into those magic little squeezables!?

Paisley loves those darn things.  The majority of the times she's eaten them have been while we were in the grocery store and she was over the whole shopping thing.  Yep, I opened it while shopping, she sucked it dry, and I paid for the empty package.  Don't judge.

A few weeks ago this company must have known about my issues with these overpriced magic containers and they asked if we would be interested in trying out their product and providing a review.  I researched their website and read about their company and was very excited to give these a try!

So they sent Paisley this four pack of YUMMI POUCHES.

As soon as they arrived, we were excited to give them a try so I grabbed some apple sauce and filled up a pouch!

Paisley was practically pulling my leg off as she watched me prepare this for her!

SHE LOVED IT!  

She feels like such a big girl when she gets to do something all by herself!

And, mama loves that I know exactly what's going into this little magic pouch! 

Ok, let's talk about the details.

The number one thing that first attracted me to this product was that it's owned and operated by a husband and wife.  I'm all about family business and we prefer to support this type of company any day!

The next thing was that the pouches are reusable and dishwasher safe!  Which means no more $3 a pop for those grocery store replicas!

Here's the facts:

- Dishwasher Safe

- Freezer Safe

- BPA and Phthalate free

- Holds up to 6 ounces

- Easy to fill through wide top zipper opening

- Recyclable and fully CPSP compliant
- Backed by a 30 day product guarantee

I really love the fact that you can put whatever you want in these pouches.  We made Paisley's baby food from fresh products so I love that I can continue to provide her with treats she loves, food that I trust, and at a reasonable price! 

Remember our freezer smoothies?  I'm thinking these would work great in here too!  Especially since the pouches are freezer safe!  

And, this is what happens when I ask her to give me a smile!

She was one happy girl and we've used the pouches several times!  

I'm really glad we decided to give these a try and I'm so thankful that Yummi Pouch asked us to review their wonderful product! 

Now, to the important stuff.  You can check them out yourselves and get your own Yummi Pouches here:

Website - www.yummipouch.com

Store - www.yummipouch.com/store

Facebook - www.facebook.com/yummipouch

Twitter - www.twitter.com/yummipouch

PLUS....you can use coupon code Party4YP to get 10% off your order!

Let us know if you try them out, too!

Thanks for stopping by today! We're off to make some freezer smoothies in our new Yummi Pouches!

Front Porch Makeover {Reveal}

So, I've only been talking about this front porch makeover forever now, right? Every single time I planned on photographing it, it rained. Like every single time.

Finally, we had a beautiful day yesterday and I snapped a few ton of pictures to share with you guys!

Let's get right to it, shall we!?

Let me start by saying my Parent's have a beautiful home with a gorgeous, southern, country front porch.  It just needed a little touch of flare!

Here's a few before pics...
(I snapped these photo's quickly with my phone, so they aren't the best quality!)

There really wasn't ever anything on this side of the porch.  Mom never had decided exactly what to do with it, so it's sat empty on this side for awhile now.

Are you ready for the big reveal...??

Cue photo overload...>>>

Hello BEAUtiful!

We'll start with this one-of-a-kind porch swing! 

The porch swing was made from my Mom's old headboard.  It was the headboard she grew up using as a kid.  Then, we I first moved out, my mom passed it down to me.  Since we had Paisley and no longer had a spare room, the headboard had been collecting dust in my parent's garage.

When we decided to give my Parent's front porch a makeover, I knew it definitely needed a porch swing!  And, being able to use this piece of my mom's history was so cool! 

We absolutely love how it turned out!  And, even more special, is this dainty little black table.  My Great-Grandpa built this by hand a long time ago for my Mom.  She's hasn't had a good place for it recently, and we decided this would be the perfect space! 

Charlie says no Southern Porch is complete without a few pretty green ferns! 

This cute little chevron tray, lantern and fake succulents all came from Hobby Lobby.

100% of this design is rooted in the front door.  It started out white.  Mom said from the very beginning she wanted to paint the front door black, so she did just that! And, the rest of the decor followed suit! 

How awesome is this Monogram Door Hanging!?!?  

Yes, those are apples...

Yes, tutorial coming soon...

Their house number sign did not look like this to begin with, either!  More on that to come soon, too... 

This sign also came from Hobby Lobby. 50% off...Holla!!!

She already had all of these things, we just gave them a fresh coat of spray paint and some new dried naturals in the pretty pitcher.

This is my other favorite part.

I have a lot of favorite parts?

These were once white.  We didn't even realize how much they blended in with the white trim and shutters on the house until we gave them a nice coat of black spray paint!  

HOLY TRANSFORMATION!  LOVE THESE!

This cute little table came from a Facebook Swap Site for $10!  And, these cute little decor items came from Hobby Lobby, of course.

The black swing cushion and the green chair cushions all came from our local Rural King and they were very reasonable!  The green and black accent pillows were made by my sweet Great Grandma with fabric from JoAnn Fabrics.  

Ok, one last overall look!

My Mom and Dad are so happy with how it turned out and it was so fun getting to work on a project all together like this!  

What do y'all think?  

What's your favorite part?

I'm loving the colors my Mom picked out!  That monogram door hanging just might be my favorite part!  ..Or the swing...Or the black rockers...

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Giveaway time!

Happy Monday!!!  Do you need a little pick-me-up to get you started today??? I certainly do! 

We are so excited to be joining an awesome team of bloggers bringing you some amazing giveaway opportunities!

This one's for you, Mama's!  It's time to get outside and enjoy the summer with some cool new gear for your little one, perfect for going on walks, taking snacks on the go, and adding a little décor to your life!

Super Summer Prize Package:

• Yummi Pouch - Little Munchkin Set with Yummi Pouch Brights. ($29 value)
• Luca & Company - Chocolate Chip Cookies or Pink Lemon Aid Artwork ($90 value)
• Sticky Bellies - $25 gift certificate
• Mixie Baby - 8oz Mixie Bottle ($19.99 value)
• SVAN - Totseat portable child seat ($35 value)
• Greater Than One Kids - Hold-On Handles - Bumblebee Single Handle Set ($19.99 value)
• Simple Nature - 8 fl oz Fragrance Free Diaper Rash Cream, 8 fl oz Fragrance Free all in one Shampoo & Body Wash, 8 fl oz Fragrance Free Face & Body Lotion ($35.47 value)

Total Value = $255

Yummi Pouch - Reusable Food Pouches

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Little Munchkin Set - Retail Price: $28.95

The Little Munchkin set has everything you need to get started with using Yummi Pouches! Yummi Pouch reusable food pouches are perfect for filling with homemade baby food, blended snacks, healthy smoothies, and more. Designed by a husband and wife team, Yummi Pouches are dishwasher and freezer safe, BPA-free, phthalate-free, easy to fill and clean through the wide zipper opening, and encourage healthy snacks for active kids! For more information visit yummipouch.com.

• Set of 4 Yummi Pouch Brights reusable food pouches - hold up to 6oz each
• 16oz filling funnel pitcher
• 10 dishwasher safe name label stickers
• 2 decorative dishwasher safe sticker sheets
• 6 mixed color extra pouch caps

Luca & Company

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Chocolate Chip Cookies or Pink Lemon Aid artwork - Retail Price: $90.00

Luca and Company, makers of the multi-award winning FunPod which provides a safe environment to get toddlers from 12 months up to six years up to the kitchen worktop on their own safely constructed platform comes the Classic Recipe Collection. Choose from Chocolate Chip Cookies or Pink Lemonade artwork which is perfect for the family who loves to cook. This series is not only for children – these prints would be lovely in any kitchen. MSRP $90. For more information visit lucaandcompany.com.

Sticky Bellies

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Sticky Bellies™ - $25 Gift Certificate

Invented by a mom, Sticky Bellies™ are removable stickers that help parents document baby's amazing growth with style and ease! By combining the look of a custom shirt with the convenience of a sticker, Sticky Bellies™ help create adorable pictures from pregnancy through the toddler years. Simply peel, stick, and snap a pic! 13 new styles will be available on September 1st. For more information visit stickybellies.com.

Mixie Baby

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8oz Mixie Bottle - Retail Price: $19.99

Mixie is the revolutionary formula bottle that allows you to fix a bottle now and mix it later. Powder formula is stored in an airtight container separately from water. When you are ready to feed, simple press the button at the bottom of the bottle to release the formula into the water, shake, and feed. Moms on the go will never again need to fumble around with formula containers in public, and a pre-mixed bottle is already ready when you need it. Mixie is great for caretakers and grandparents, travel, and those sleepy middle-of-the-night feedings. For more information visit mixiebaby.com.

SVAN

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Totseat - Retail Price: $35.00

Our newest seat for children is the original portable, washable, and "squashable" seat. Made of fabric, The Totseat is designed to safely attach to all types of chairs. Adult chairs can be quickly transformed into the perfect seat for a baby or toddler.
Available in 6 colors with a variety of patterns, The Totseat eliminates the need to hunt down a highchair when traveling. The Totseat is ready to go in its own carry pouch which fits neatly into your diaper bag, purse or other carry bag. For more information visit svan.com.

Greater Than One Kids

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A Bumblebee Single Handle Set from the popular Bizzy Bugs collection - Retail Price: $19.99

Hold-On Handles from Greater Than One Kids helps keep children within arm’s reach without restraint. It is the first stylish stroller accessory and walking rope for 1-3 children. Snaps easily onto strollers or worn on parent’s wrist/belt loop. Children love the whimsical handles. Available in Double and Single Handle Sets in three fun themes, Bizzy Bugs, Ocean Odyssey and Zany Zoo.
Greater Than One Kids designs mom, baby, and kid products for growing families with greater than one child. As parents of multiples, company founders Susanne Budofsky and Robyn Spritzer experience first-hand the challenges parents of greater than one face each and every day. Although life may be challenging at times, with the proper gear, organizational tools, guidance, and a sense of humor, raising more than one child need not always be difficult. In fact, it can simply be greater! For more information visit greaterthanonekids.com.

Simple Nature

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1 Fragrance Free Diaper Rash Cream
1 Fragrance Free all in one Shampoo & Body Wash
1 Fragrance Free Face & Body Lotion Retail Price: $35.47
Simple Nature is a fresh new brand of truly all natural and certified organic baby care products that are stylish, effective, easy to use and totally free of harsh ingredients and toxins! Based out of Las Vegas NV, the brand was created by a licensed cosmetologist and skin expert who felt that children deserve only the best. Inspired by her daughter who has very sensitive skin, Simple Nature's founder created the most luxurious products available that are:

• Dermatologist tested and approved
• Fragrance free
• pH balanced perfectly for newborn skin
• Tear free
• Soothing, gentle and non irritating
• Does not contain synthetic fragrances or dyes
• Does not contain scent masking agents
• Biodegradable and Eco friendly
• Does not conduct any animal testing
• Completely free of toxins and harsh/irritating ingredients
• Suitable for all ages
• Vegan
• Made in USA

For more information visit simplenature.co.

Enter to Win $255 in Great Prizes!

One Winner will be selected August 19th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck y'all!!!

No Bake, Healthy Energy Bites {Recipe}

I don't know about you guys, but I'll take all the energy and boost I can get! I feel like I'm tired on a daily basis!  I attempt to accomplish things once Paisley has gone to sleep every night and most nights, this results in me staying up way too late.  

And, I am not a morning person.

Just ask my husband.
Actually don't.  Let's not get him started on that please.

So as I was browsing Pinterest one night (when I obviously should have been sleeping.  Maybe Pinterest is my problem?) 

Ok, so browsing Pinterest....I came across these tasty looking bite size pieces of ENERGY! WHHHAATT???!!!  

Wait...and they're healthy!?!?  
Score!  

So, you can check out the original recipe here, at Smashed Peas & Carrots.  Hers looked delicious, but I knew I wanted to add a little and make these my own.  

Here's how it went down..

1 cup oatmeal - (I used instant, because I had it in the cabinet)

1/2 cup Almond Butter

1/2 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed - (Found this at our local Krogers by the flour)

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup raisins

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything together in a bowl.

Until it's completely mixed together.

Let your mixture chill in the fridge for about 30 - 45 minutes.

Once chilled, roll into bite-size balls and enjoy!

Store in a container, in the fridge.

I was so surprised at how good they really were! 

I mean, I know they looked good, but they really tasted even better!

And HELLO! This is a healthy snack that doesn't taste like cardboard! Woop Woop!  It has great flavor and really is a great go-to snack! 

I'm no nutritionist or professional.  

Like, AT ALL!

BUT, my friend Dr. Oz shares some great info about the benefits of flaxseed. 

You can read about that HERE. 

I was also wondering if this would be considered somewhat or close to "clean"???  Anyone? Help me out here...??

I used all natural, organic honey. natural almonds and almond butter.  I'm just not sure about the other stuff?  Maybe by using regular oats instead of instant?  Surely someone out there can give me some feedback on this!?  I'd love to make this an even better snack option if that were possible! 

Ok, that's all for today!  

I'm off to eat more energy bites....

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