::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--it's good for both of our SEO!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Home Office Reveal via the pink little notebook

~Mid-Century Modern Dresser Makeover via Cuckoo 4 Design

~Front Porch Pallet Ceiling via Cape 27

~Nautical Boy's Room via Inspiration for Moms

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

• DIY Photo Pendant Necklace
• How to Dress Up a Store-Bought Potted Plant
• Another Graduate

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Another Graduate

Graduations are so bittersweet, aren't they? On one hand, you're so proud of your preschooler/kindergartner/high schooler/college graduate. And on the other hand, you're shrieking inside your head, "Wait! No! How could this be happening so soon??!" Michaela Byrd graduated from preschool (the 5 year old/pre-K program) last week. 

I managed to make it through the whole ceremony without crying, mostly because she looked so excited and proud, and also because I was slightly annoyed that the little girl they stuck in front of her was too tall and her cap kept blocking my camera shots. (just going for complete honesty here)

But after the fact, looking at the pics, I can't help but feel the slightest twinge of sadness. My easy, sweet, kind girl is heading off to kindergarten in the Fall (sob), and even though it will be a half-day program, she'll be there 5 days a week. I mean, she might as well pack a briefcase and tell me she's going to Tokyo to work on a merger or something else official sounding like that. 

She's growing up, and I guess that means I have to grow up as a mom too, right? And speaking of growing up, today is Natalie's first big field trip. I guess the first grade likes to save the best for last, waiting until the week before school ends. This means that I'm on a big yellow school bus, riding along as a chaperone. DearsweetbabyJesus, what was I thinking? If I make it out alive, I'm sure I'll have some fun pics of George Washington's birthplace, which I haven't visited since elementary school. 

Any big transitions for you lately?

*Bring your best post of the week tomorrow and link up at my weekly Weekend Bloggy Reading link party! Party starts at 8 am EST and stays open until Sunday night!*

How to Dress Up a Store-Bought Potted Plant (Teacher Gift Idea)

I may be the only person whose elementary-schooler is still in school...and has class until June 6! I guess some Virginia counties are just gluttons for punishment, huh? I had to come up with a Last-Minute Teacher Gift Idea for my preschooler last week. We purchased thank you notes and Starbucks gift cards, but I knew Michaela Byrd wanted an actual gift to hand her sweet teachers. We picked out some beautiful potted wave petunias, but the pots had writing all over them and I knew we could do better. I thought I'd show you a super easy and inexpensive way to dress up those store-bought potted plants:

To do this, you'll need:

-Potted Plant of your choice

-Scissors

-Plastic bag

-Burlap

-Ribbon

1. I cut a circle (ish) bit of the plastic bag to wrap around the base of the pot. I figured this would help keep any extra moisture from leaking through the burlap. You can wrap it tightly and secure it with tape to the sides of the pot. I just wrapped it and made sure the ends were sticking up.

2. I cut a big square of burlap and placed the pot in the center. Then I just pulled it straight up, making a little sack for the pot to rest in. Next, I cut a length of ribbon, wrapped it around the pot (near the top), and tied a tight knot.

Voila!

The teachers ended up loving the plants and pretty ribbon. I could have made a cute printable that said something like "thanks for growing with me this year" or something, but when I considered it, my brain said, "ain't nobody got time for that." So I listened. 

What's your favorite thing to give to teachers as a special "thank you"?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Beach "Memory" Photo Pendant Necklace (with Martha Stewart Jewelry)

This post is brought to you by Plaid Crafts. I was so pleased when a box of craft supply goodies arrived at my doorstep, all from the new Martha Stewart Jewelry line. The challenge was to use items from the box to create my own special piece of jewelry. I came up with a fun Beach "Memory" Necklace, using some of the Nautical themed charms. This is the first piece of jewelry I've ever made, so I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Supplies:

1. Jewelry Enamel(s) in your choice of colors

2. Charms

3. Jewelry Pliers

4. Silicone Work Mat

5. Jewelry Glue

6. Silicone Brush

7. Activator

8. Jump Rings 

9. Clear Enamel (optional)

10. Blank Setting Pendant

11. Detail Scissors (better for cutting out small things)

12. Wallet Sized Photo
13. Chain

14.. Not Pictured: Lobster Clasp, Closure of your choice, Pen, Toothpicks, Something to trace the photo with

Directions:

*Be very careful to follow the instructions on the packages. The enamels and glue do have wait times, and you'll need to factor that into your planning.*

1. Start with jewelry glue, blank pendant, photo of choice (you can make wallet sized photos at any Kodak kiosk), detail scissors, pen, and something to trace with.

2. Trace your photo to fit the pendant. I used the lid of a soy sauce bottle to trace over my photo because it just fit inside the recessed area of my pendant. Cut out the photo.

3. Use a bit of jewelry glue (it's photo safe!) to adhere your photo to the pendant. Be sure to read the instructions! I found I had to spread it a bit because it is very thick.

4. Follow drying instructions and let the pendant sit.

5. Get out your charms, enamel, activator, silicon brush, silicone mat, and toothpicks.

6. Mix your enamels and activators according to the package. I let mine sit for 2 hours to thicken.

7. Using a toothpick, apply the color to the desired areas. A little goes a long way! I didn't realize it would spread quite as much as it did, so the yellow and white ran together a bit on the seashells, but I ended up liking the effect.

8. As you can see in the photo, I left the charms on their cardboard packaging as I painted since they were secured. I figured there was less of a chance of a small child knocking one or two to the floor. Be sure to follow directions for drying time!

On to the protective enamel finish. This is optional, but it really "finishes" and protects the photo, in my opinion:

And to finish your necklace?

9. Use your jewelry pliers to open and close the jump rings.

10. Attach a lobster closure and jump ring to either side of the end of the chain, creating a way for the necklace to close.

11. Attach your charms and pendant to the chain with jump rings as desired.

I was so pleased with the way this turned out for my first try at jewelry. I love using photos wherever I can to capture memories, so pairing a picture of my girls from Myrtle Beach with some of Martha's nautical charms seemed like the perfect summer accessory.

I enjoyed working with the Martha Stewart Jewelry line from Plaid because it was so much more than just plugging in pre-made "puzzle pieces" of jewelry. You can really and truly create and customize to your heart's desire. As always, these Martha Stewart products are of exceptional quality, and you can tell that a lot of thought went into the design and color schemes...on trend!

I'm proud to wear this fun, nautical style necklace as a reminder of a wonderful beach vacation with my family. The neat thing about the Martha line is that she has so many other themes to choose from: flowers, woodland, etc.

What kind of photo would you use in your own custom pendant?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Connect with Martha Stewart Crafts on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Linked to Two Twenty One

Disclosure: This was a compensated post written by me for Plaid Crafts. As always, opinions are all my own.

Happy Memorial Day! (and more)

Before you hit the pool or fire up the grill today, don't forget to take a moment and say a prayer of thanks for the men and women who fought and died so that we can enjoy a very privileged life as Americans.

Kate's running the very fabulous BOTB series some time today! Swing by Centsational Girl to see what we rounded up for this post of the Best of the Blogosphere. 

I'd love for you to stop by again tomorrow...I have a beachy craft project scheduled to share with you.

Happy Memorial Day!

Featured Project Ideas {Link Party Features}

Hi there! How's your holiday weekend going? Too cold for the pool here, and T is working, so I thought I'd share some Features from the weekend link party. As usual, there was a fantastic line-up of creative posts: Home Decor, DIY, Crafts, Recipes, Party Ideas, Tips and Tricks, and more. Without further ado, here are some that I spotted this weekend:

~Cottage Living Room via Cottage in the Oaks

~Cookies and Cream Frosting via Making Home Base

~DIY Planter Box via Christina's Adventures

Share Your Best Post of the Week--Link Up!

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I just wanted to offer you guys a quick "weekend update." Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features! I'd love to know which ones caught your eye.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, printables, tips and tricks, home decor, DIY, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

This is just a quick "sneak peek" snapshot of all the awesome projects that have been shared at the party this week. You can click the party link above to check them out and share your own project! I'd love to Feature you in a post!

If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

If you missed this week's posts at Serenity Now, here are some links for you:

•  Recipe Reviews from My Pinterest Food Board
• An Afternoon at the Ballet
• Featured Project Ideas

Features coming soon!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--it's good for both of our SEO!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Chicken Feeder Herb Garden via Inspired by Charm

~Shipping Crate Side Table via Simplicity in the South (on Infarrantly Creative)

~Patio Swing Retreat via DIY Show Off

~DIY Herringbone Tray via it's always autumn

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

•  Recipe Reviews from My Pinterest Food Board
• An Afternoon at the Ballet
• Featured Project Ideas

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Day Off

The sun is (sort of) shining, though I don't think it will last long today. It's Michaela Byrd's first day of summer vacay after preschool, and my house is a disgusting wreck. I'm taking a day off, guys. Feel free to browse the Project Gallery or past Weekend Bloggy Reading parties for inspiration today.

The link party is scheduled to go live tomorrow morning at 8 am EST. Bring your best post of the week to share! Please be sure to add a link back to Serenity Now within your post...it helps both of our SEO.

Have a good one!

An Afternoon at the Ballet

Saturday afternoon was all about tutus and hairpins and makeup and dance slippers. Michaela Byrd had her last ballet recital at her dance studio; next year it's up on stage with the big kids. The studio owner chose (of course) the darkest, gloomiest room for the recital, so snapping good pics was hard because I wanted to focus on watching my girlie dance. But I did manage to snag a few that I wanted to share today.

And, of course, we end the day with frozen yogurt. Chocolate, peanut butter cups, Reese's pieces, hot fudge. Perfection.

Have you been to the ballet lately?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments. 

Recipe Reviews from My Pinterest Food Board

So I'm doing this thing where I actually try out some of the recipes I prolifically Pin to my Recipes and Foodie Tips board, rather than just click "Pin It" over and over until my eyes pop out. Imagine that! And there have been times where I've Pinned a recipe from a blog or website and wondered if it would actually live up to the hype. So consider today's post my tried and tested review of a couple recent recipe Pins with my photos to back it up. I'd love to know if you try them too!

Crock Pot Meatball Subs from Growing with Grabbie

This one was as easy as dumping a bag of frozen meatballs in my crock pot along with some sauce and spices. The store didn't have any hoagie rolls, so I bought some ciabatta rolls and it was just as tasty. A great weeknight special!

Beer Bread from Dulce Dough

I searched and searched for a tasty beer bread recipe because I didn't want to spend $87 per loaf buying the mix from Tastefully Simple. We had everything we needed, and it was perfection! Best when served warm, and don't skip pouring the butter on the top!

Chicken and Rice Casserole from pinch of yum

If you sense a theme of "easy" among these recipes, you would be correct. My sis sent me the link for this one, and I am forever grateful. This recipe has healthy options, but I went for the cream of chicken soups 'cause ain't nobody got time for that. I also leave the chicken breasts whole; doesn't make a difference in the outcome. I also add frozen broccoli florets. Still a yummy meal. 

Do you use your Pinterest boards to meal plan? Have any new favorites that you've snagged from a blogger or recipe site?

I'd love it if you'd like to follow me on Pinterest. I Pin lots of recipes, home decor inspiration, craft ideas, and  homemaking tips. Hop over and check my boards out!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Featured Project Ideas {Link Party Features}

Happy Monday! How's your week starting out? As promised, I'm back with some Features from the weekend link party. As usual, there was a fantastic line-up of creative posts: Home Decor, DIY, Crafts, Recipes, Party Ideas, Tips and Tricks, and more. Without further ado, here are some that I spotted this weekend:

~Spring Living Room via Happy Housie

~Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers via The Kitchen is My Playground

~Above Ground Pond via One More Time

One More Day to Link Up Your Best Post!

I'm trying something different this week and giving everyone one more day to link up to this week's Weekend Bloggy Reading link party before I choose Features. I've been running this party for several years now, and I'd love to see it grow a little more. I'll have a post with lots of Featured Project Ideas up tomorrow morning.

If you haven't joined the fun yet, please hop over to the party and add your best post of the week. We have Home Decor, Crafts, DIY, Recipes, Tips and Tricks, Party Ideas, and so much more! Lots of fun ideas to Pin and tuck away for future use.

If you've already linked up, be sure to browse some of the other projects. If you haven't added a link back to me within your post, please take a minute to do that. I had to bypass several dozen really fantastic projects last weekend for Features because the bloggers didn't link back to Serenity Now within their posts. It's good for both of our SEO, guys! 

Hope you've had a fantastic weekend. 

Share Your Best Post of the Week-- Link Up!

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I just wanted to offer you guys a quick "weekend update." Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features! I'd love to know which ones caught your eye.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, printables, tips and tricks, home decor, DIY, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

This is just a quick "sneak peek" snapshot of all the awesome projects that have been shared at the party this week. You can click the party link above to check them out and share your own project! I'd love to Feature you in a post!

If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

If you missed this week's posts at Serenity Now, here are some links for you:

•  Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana
• Martha Stewart Jewelry Sneak Peek
• Featured Project Ideas
• Not That Innocent

More Features coming tomorrow!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link. I've been bypassing dozens of links for Features because the posts don't have a direct link back to me!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Diagonal Color Block T-Shirt via warfieldfamily

~DIY Clay Monogram Medallions via damask love

~Create a Meaningful Home series via SAS Interiors

~Updating an Oudoor Umbrella via Creatively Living

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

•  Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana
• Martha Stewart Jewelry Sneak Peek
• Featured Project Ideas
• Not That Innocent

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Not That Innocent

I hope you heard Britney Spears' singing when you read the title of this post, because I totally did. This looks like the precious face of a puppy angel, albeit a large-eared one, doesn't it?

It's been ten years since we've had a puppy in the house, and Ellie is giving us (and our Pomeranian, Emma) a grand reintroduction. 

Her current favorite toys are the plastic lid of a peanut butter jar and anything that squeaks. Her favorite things to chew are my chair legs and the legs of small children who might be passing through the kitchen. Michaela Byrd, whose skinny legs are the approximate width of a No. 2 pencil, makes an excellent victim.

Likes? Eating as many cicada bugs as possible while being walked in the backyard. Cherry picking dishes off the table when children aren't paying attention. Dislikes? Being left alone for any period of time. An empty food bowl.

I say this jesting because I realize that a lot of this is normal puppy behavior, and most of it can be curbed. 

We're working really, really hard on the whole "no bite" thing and making her understand that the girls are not chew toys. I need to get some bitter apple stuff to put on the furniture legs. I'm also struggling through the house training...the cicada bugs are out and really threw me for a loop. Ellie has to be leashed when we go out now so she doesn't stuff herself with too many bugs and forget about the whole potty thing. It's super-fun.

On the bright side, it's so fun to see a puppy explore a whole new world. We've been careful to keep her home until she's through all of her shots, but she has enjoyed meeting some family members and their dogs. She seems to be pretty smart. I taught her "sit" the other day in just two tries. 

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen a few Ellie-themed "Don't worry, Mom" pics. I plan on keeping those up...they make me smile. 

What's your best puppy tips?

*Bring your best post of the week tomorrow for the weekly link party! I can't wait to see what's up your sleeve!*

Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana

Did you know you can make Banana Bread with just one banana? I didn't until yesterday! I had one measly brown banana and didn't want to throw it out. With a little Google help, I found a recipe from What a Crock! and tweaked it by adding a few extras. It turned out great, so I'm sharing it with you today:

Banana Bread with One Banana

Ingredients:

1 large very ripe banana

1 egg with enough milk to make 1 cup (I used whole milk because that's what my girls drink)\

1 stick of butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

Walnuts (optional)

Chocolate Chips (optional)

Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

*Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. 

1. Dump all of the ingredients (except for the nuts and chocolate chips) into your mixer bowl; no need to combine. I just broke the banana up into a couple of chunks. 

2. Mix on low to medium-low until most of the chunks are gone. 

3. Grease a baking pan. (Grease it really well...the bottom of my bread stuck because I didn't grease it well enough!)

4. If you're adding chocolate chips, mix them into the batter and pour into the bread pan. Top with sprinkles of walnuts.

5. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes. Use a toothpick to determine if the bread is cooked all the way through.

It is a very dense, moist (I hate that word) bread. Very tasty!

My girls eat pretty healthy breakfasts: eggs, toast, fruit, whole wheat waffles, healthier cereal...so sometimes I like to treat them with muffins or a yummy bread. Paired with some scrambled eggs and a small serving of fruit, this would make for a very yummy morning meal!

What's your favorite type of bread?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!