Link it Up!

The internet is rad. There are so many amazing artists and creative people out there. And the internet is our vehicle to know those people. Love it! I will stop gushing about the internet now. Here are some of my favorite recent links from around the internets.

How awesome do those cinnamon roll biscuits look? Biscuits people! Quick and delicious.

You know how my word is Brave this year? Well how perfect is this print?

The kids are wanting their own yoga mats. And I want them to have these ones. 

I was hoping to make the kids a new stuffy for Easter and this one is a big contender. Or at least a major inspiration.

I have wanted to try this DIY forever! Metal clay is awesome. 

How good doed Lemon Cheesecake Pie sound? Uh pretty good.

This website has tons of science projects for beginners. I want to start with this botany one with the kids. Spring planting is coming people!

This is an awesome post on taking product photos. Love it!

I love this post about getting more done. It is focused on having an Etsy shop but I think it applies to the blog and my life as well.

Don't click this link with your kids around or at work! I think that doing a boudoir photo shoot would be so fun. That link is to a great Utah based company. 

Still in the Game! Come see a great resource for healthy eating!

I am excited to say that I am still working on my new years resolution! Woot!! Hey, for me this is a big deal. Most of my resolutions have been pie crust resolutions, easily made and easily broken, and by this time in the month of Jan I would have already fallen off the wagon as it were.  

How am I doing it? 

Well...I have an exercise buddy 

(Hi Kari!! :)) 

She actually introduced me to some free exercise classes being held 5 days a week in a church gym and we are going 2 times a week and then I am doing exercise at home the rest of the week. 

AND 

I have found a wonderful, inspiring website for help in the food dept!! 

Have you heard of 

SKINNY MOM?? 

She offers a supper club with full months of healthy dinner ideas including shopping lists and everything! 

AND

ITS FREE!!

All you will need to do is join her free membership to get access to the supper club.  Its pretty cool! Did I mention all the recipes have all the nutritional stats and even have WW pts if you are doing that?? 

Check her out HERE!!

PS did i mention the meals are actually tasty? So far my kids haven't even realized they are healthy!

PSS I am not being compensated by skinny mom at all. She doesn't even know I exist (unless by maybe my name on her membership list)I just think shes awesome and wanted to share.

LOVES!! 

Link it up!

The weekend is here! We have some fun Christmasy plans for the weekend. I love Christmas plans. Christmas crafts and destinations are all part of the plans. If I can remember to take pictures I will do a little post next week and share. To kick off this weekend right I put together a little link list for your enjoyment. Check them out!

We are doing a gingerbread house this weekend. I got wise and bought a pre made one this year. We bought that Wilton one. I have seen them at both target and walmart. Last years train ended up being a real lesson in patience for me! It wasn't pretty. Or if you like you can always bake your own gingerbread!

If I wasn't already making pom pom embellishments for my gifts this year I would crank out a ton of paper bows! They look pretty simple and cute.

My niece is crazy talented and she created two free Christmas themed printables for you to enjoy.

I made some green chile pork verde earlier this week and it was awesome!

Have you heard of The Fictionist? They are a totally rad band from Utah. Lock and Key is one of my favorite songs of theirs. Click the link to check out the music video!

This citrus on black print from Angela Hardison is lovely. It is modern and fun. It would be a great addition to your kitchen. Or my kitchen. Any kitchen.

I love this post about taking the leap into working for yourself. It is a realistic check list of what you may want to accomplish before putting your two weeks in.

I have always wanted to try my hand at making Pad Thai.

Like a lot of people winter is murder on my skin and lips. I think natural lip balm would be an awesome solution for that. Well for the lips anyway. The berry's would add just enough pretty color and the coconut oil will be super moisturizing.

What are your plans this weekend? I hope it is a good one!

Peace Out- AnneMarie

Bookmark Dump

Tips to apply lipstick and make it last all day. This is one I need! I am just starting to wear lipstick and the staying power of it has been somewhat disappointing.

And since we are talking lipstick! Check out Check out this post about the best red lipsticks.

I want to try this natural cleaner in my shower! Grapefruit and salt? Who knew?

I want these shoes!! 

This top. I can not say enough about it! I love it with the biggest heart eyes!

My kids would groove on making these pencil holders!

I want to make a million slouch hats! 

Have you seen how big calligraphy is right now? That shiz is everywhere. Of course I want to jump on that band wagon. Online classes baby!

This DIY deer bust is rad and one is destined to be in my kids bedroom.

This is a tip for tiny apartment living but really I think we can all use it! Channel the Nuns my friends.

This is a great post about figuring out your marketable skills and selling them. This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately!

Would you ever consider doing a capsule wardrobe? I am super tempted! I am not sure if I know my own style well enough to make an effective wardrobe.

Our kids want to do Disneyland soooooo bad! Really what kid doesn't? Here is a great post with tons of tips to survive it!

The past few weeks!

We have done some fun posts the last few weeks! Check them out so you don't miss out!

Black bean and yam enchiladas. They are vegetarian! And perfect for meatless Monday

Deconstructed chicken pot pie. Not only perfect for a cool fall evening but they would make a splash when entertaining.

Polka Dot Pumpkins! Yay Halloween is coming!

A sweetheart journal has got to be one of the most romantic things you can do with your partner ever. Nick and I are going to start one!

Chocolate peanut butter rice krispies. Yum-o! 

My advice for working parents.

Pinterest buster- lemon zucchini bread. Lackluster looks but super yummy taste!

Getting organized for Christmas. It is three months away! AAAHHHH! I am not prepared.

I love a good makeover! 

Easy bread machine rolls. Takes all the work out of it! I love it!

My first I love my state post. The first of many!

DIY gift round-up

Is it way too early to be thinking about Christmas gifts? Christmas is only like three months away! Three months. So really it is perfect timing, especially for doing handmade gifts! As a matter of fact I was hoping to DIY some little gifts for the ladies I work with. Below are a few that I found that I love. There will be other posts like this in the future because there are a whole lot of great tutorials out there. And I am crazy indecisive! 

Soap on a rope from A Beautiful Mess

Tiny neon pots from I Spy DIY

Cute jewelry dishes from I Spy DIY

DIY tea bags from Miss Renaissance

Instant Mocha mix from Something Turquoise. Although cocoa would probably be more my ladies style. 

DIY sugar scrub cubes from Rustic Escentuals

Those are just a few of a million different choices. What would you recommend? What are your favorite gifts? Maybe a Starbucks gift card will be the gift of choice!

Bookmark Dump!

I am here to share my book mark dump. I know pinterest is the hip thing and I love it. As a matter of fact you can follow us on Pinterest right over there --------> But I still do it old school and book mark the things that are really really on my list of radness. So enjoy!

Tips to get the perfect pour shot from a Pinch of Yum. Rad! 

I want to try making this recipe for healing salve. Makes me think of our Grandpa. He always had a can of salve and he put it on ALL of our hurts. It always seemed to help too!

I want these shoes!

I can't help but think of fall right now!  The weather around here has been more like fall than summer for a few weeks now. I blame El Nino. So of course fall crafts are on my mind!

Weaving sounds like a perfect fall craft! And how pretty is this one?! UGH! 

Hobo dinners! The kids have been begging to make some.

Have you seen A Beautiful Mess in the last few days? It has a beautiful new design.

Emily's no sew magnet curtains for french doors is brilliant!

How much would your kids love to open up a Memory Box from when they were little? This one is a baby memory box but I am thinking of doing them for the elementary school years for my kiddies.

Confession time: I am crazy baby hungry. I want to get pregnant like yesterday. So I am pinning over all the cool baby products that are out there right now. Like Fresh Bib. It is a bib a month club! They are hip and fun.

This planter stand from Elise at enJoy it is basically amazing! Go buy one!

I collect tea towels. And these ones over at makelike are so pretty.

Speaking of tea towels. I made some stamped ones.

This weather has me thinking about weenie roast and smores! Here is an easy and quick fire pit DIY.

I have been on the Working Mother website a lot lately. It has been hard balancing work and the kids. How do we do it? I have no idea. But I miss my kids!

  

Free First Day of School Printable!!

Friends!! Where is the summer going?? I had to have that talk with my girly's about getting our sleep schedules back in order. (It takes 30 days to adjust your bodies sleep patterns they say.) Woah! Its flying by...Are you freaking out? Would a free printable help you feel better? :) Here is a darling sign you can have your cute kidlets hold in the "first day of school" photos. Free for the taking from the ever adorable Miss Lily. (Gabby)

You can print it any size you'd like up to 11x14.

Download the Printable!!

Also, somethings to think about...

1.  Now is a great time to buy/stock up on art supplies for Christmas presents for all the artists on your gift lists while prices are lowest. 

2. if you are planning on giving gifts in a jar now is a good time to buy the jars while they are readily available. 

Check out some ideas from Tidy Mom here...

Gift in a jar

AND

3. If any of you want to make homemade vanilla extract to give for Christmas, you should start that soon. It takes a few months to brew.

 Here's a link for the how to/recipe... 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

(I haven't made any before but I sure want to!!) 
PS be sure to read the reviews!! 
There's some great advice and tips! 

Is this it?? YES!! I can do hard things and I am going to prove it! Weight loss journey happening here!!

So...I need to lose weight. Boo. Actually I am officially down 23 lbs but by basic accident. I have been trying LOTS of different programs, I mean LOTS and I think I have finally (I sure hope so this time)found what is working for me. I am drinking lots of water, avoiding carbs, attempting to keep them under 50-100 max a day, increasing fruits and veggies, limiting sugar (back to the carbs thing) and exercise.4 days a week. I have promised myself that I will stop eating when I am full, at the first inkling even. You'd think that would be an obvious thing but it hasn't always been that way for me. I also promised myself if there is anything I really want to have I will just have it. No denial. Starting with 3 bites. I am finding that usually after 3 bites of that naughty food thing, it sometimes wasn't all my mind had it cracked up to be so I can leave it and if it is I eat it. Hopefully avoiding the spiral into binge land when I can't stand it anymore and eat far beyond what I should to satisfy the craving.

ALSO...

I found a rad new game weight loss website!! You can click here to go check it out. Its called diet bet and the concept is that everyone playing puts in $30 and all who lose 4% in 28 days gets to split the pot!! HOW FUN?! They also have 6 month games if you are interested. Go check it out!! You can even start your own game if you want with your friends and family!! 

PS I am not being compensated by diet bet..I just think its cool and want to share.  They have a game that just started today so go and have some fun!! Lets do this together!! 

LOVES!!

Em

cloth napkin tutorial round up

We use a lot of napkins and paper towels around our house. They are convenient and easy to use and killing our planet..... dun dun dun! But seriously they are bad for the environment. I feel guilty every time I throw one away. So I have been gathering cloth napkins that I find for a good price to replace our paper napkins. We have also started trying to get into the habit of using plain white tea towels instead of paper towels. I have been buying them like a sucker! Why not make a bunch? I have a ton of scrap fabric that I need to bust through. So this weekend I want to sew a bunch up. Using one of these tutorials. To be totally honest I will probably try one of each and whichever one is that absolute easiest that is the one I will use. Keep in mind that these are just a drop in the bucket of the amount of tutorials that there are for cloth napkins on the webs.

This is a great tutorial from Gingercake. 

I love the simple explanation of making mitered corners in this tutorial by Nicole's Classes. It made it click all of the sudden for me!

This one from A Beautiful Mess isn't totally a tutorial but there is a quick explanation of how to make them. I love the mismatched napkins and the cute basket to hold them!

And if you don't feel like making any:

I had to add skull ones because I love them!!

These unbleached cotton ones are beautiful. 

Last but not least simple white ones!

Would you or do you use cloth napkins? Have you made them or bought them? I am so excited to make some and start using them. Now how to store them is my next quest.