Inspiring Project Ideas {Link Party Features}

Hello there, readers! Can you believe it's the last day of September?? It's a Features Day from the weekend link party. Isn't it fun to start off your week with some inspiration? There was a fantastic line-up of creative posts: Home Decor, DIY, Crafts, Recipes, Party Ideas, Tips and Tricks, and more. It's an awesome spot to find stuff to add to your Pinterest boards! Here are some that I spotted this weekend:

~Bold Green Entry Table via Somerset Lane

~Sharpie Sketched Pumpkins via The Happy Housie

~Apple Cranberry Pecan Muffins via Cozy Country Living

Showcase Your Best Post of the Week! (One More Day to Link Up)

Just wanted to remind you that there is one more day to link up to this week's Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. I'd love to see you there! I'll have a post with some Featured Project Ideas up tomorrow.

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 if you'd like your project considered for a feature. 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!

Hello, hello! What are you up to today? Don't forget to link up to this week's link party...it went live yesterday, and I'd love to see your project there! Features will be up on Monday morning, so head over now.

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 located over at the party, or you can add a text link back to me within your post. Remember, I only feature projects that have a link back to me within the post.

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

Features coming soon!

:;Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up {and BOTB news}

Happy Friday! 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 had to bypass so many great projects lately because they didn't include a link back to my blog in the post!

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:

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~Wall Unit to Kitchen Hutch via The Learned Observer

~Restoration Hardware Inspired Dining Table via The Life of CK and Nate

~4 Tips to Host an Autumn Dinner Party via Reluctant Entertainer

~Hand Stamped Tree Slice Art via jones design co.

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

• How to Start Preparing for the Holidays Now
• Baby Boy Nursery Inspiration
• Some of My Favorite Fall and Halloween Posts
• Inspiring Project Ideas

*Aaaand it's a BOTB weekend! Head over to Centsational Girl to see the best of the blogosphere...lots of inspiring projects!

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Preparing and Organizing Now for the Holidays

Um, I know. It's not even October yet. I don't normally start to think about the holidays until I'm eyeing individually wrapped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups at Target and deciding how many bags to purchase to stuff myself with hand out to the neighborhood kids. But this year is a little different. With baby #3 on his way before (I hope!) Thanksgiving, I know I need to start thinking about holiday plans now. I thought I'd share a few sites with you all today that are geared towards Holiday and Christmas Planning. Just 89 days until Christmas!

*Holiday Grand Plan

I shared about this one last year, as I had used it in the past. They have varying levels and plans to help you prepare for the holiday season.

*Take some advice from Martha Stewart

Whether you need tips on shopping for the big turkey dinner, corralling your Christmas light, or wrapping gifts with the perfect flair, you know Martha's the girl to show you how it's done!


*Handmade Holiday Organizer Printable

How cute is this? Sized perfectly to fit in your planner or purse. I love it!

*See Better Homes and Gardens for a better start to prepping for the holidays

They have several good ideas to add to your to-do list as the countdown to December 25th nears.


*Christmas Checklists

I'm not the only sucker for a checklist, am I? I love to cross things off!


*Ultimate Christmas Countdown Checklist

Start this one now to be ready!


*101 Days to Christmas

Great site with a daily countdown tip!


*Christmas Organizing Series

A wonderfully informative series from a fellow blogger.

*Some good General Tips

A few extra tips off the top of my head?

• Budget. Know what your spending limits are and stick to them.
• Get help! Trade off babysitting with a friend to get some extra shopping done.
• Set reminders on your phone for important tasks and dates!
• Use your Pinterest boards to make plans for decor, entertaining, crafts, and gifts. 

What are your favorite online resources for preparing for the holidays?

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.

Some of My Favorite Halloween Posts

Hello, hello! I have a final ultrasound today and didn't have a chance to work on a baking post for today, so I decided to share some of my favorite Fall and Halloween themed posts from here at Serenity Now. Feel free to Pin the individual posts for your Fall or Halloween inspiration boards!

Halloween "Mantel"

Monogrammed Trick or Treat Bags

Halloween Hair Bows

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Nutella Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread

Soft Ginger Cookies

Baked Chocolate Donuts with Maple Glaze

Those are just a few old favorites. You'll find more in my Project Gallery!

What's your favorite thing about Fall?


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.

My Baby Boy Nursery Inspiration (Puppy Dogs)

When I found out we were expecting a boy for this pregnancy, I felt a bit of a panic wash over me after the initial excitement. After seven and a half years of all girl everything in this house (poor T), my imagination hit a wall when I tried to think of how I wanted to decorate baby boy's room. Today, I'll share some of the inspiration I've used to make plans for this nursery...which still has a long way to go.

The first thing I did was head straight over to my Pinterest profile and start a baby board to corral all the ideas I could find as I scoured the internet. I knew I didn't want to do an entire themed room with murals and complete matching bedding set, etc. etc. I considered doing a vintage cowboy look, but nixed the idea because we did that for my sister-in-law's baby shower a few years ago and I wanted to try something different.

This is what the room looked like when Natalie lived there:

I was wandering through Home Goods a couple of months ago and found myself on the pet aisle. I noticed that they had some adorable dog themed baskets and dachshund bookends and immediately was drawn to the idea of using dogs in the baby's room. We are definitely a "dog" family and some of my earliest memories revolve around my family's Irish Setters and English Cocker Spaniels. I picked up a few things.

With the decision to let the room go "to the dogs," it was time to start hunting for bedding and accessories. I knew I didn't want the nursery to look like one giant dog house, but I thought that some puppy dog accents and artwork would be cute.

I really hit the jackpot with searches on Google, Pinterest, and Etsy. 

My friend Kim from Newlywoodwards co-runs the Etsy shop Sew Midwestern and did a little quilt consult with me. She's putting together the most adorable puppy dog quilt for baby boy that I can't wait to show you! She's doing a stripe style quilt like this one:

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I spotted some cute nursery ideas on various blogs:

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And I looooved the artwork I found on Etsy:

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Ordered this one:

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Like this one, but it's pricey:

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I'm a huge sucker for Norman Rockwell:

Some things I will be DIYing...maybe a cute bunting, some wall art. I need new window treatments this time around, as Natalie managed to shred the roman shade that was in there before. I'm wondering if I can find a plain Roman shade with black-out liner somewhere and just embellish the edges with ribbon?

What's your favorite nursery theme for a boy or girl?

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.

Inspiring Project Ideas {Link Party Features}

Hello there, readers! It's a Features Day from the weekend link party. Isn't it fun to start off your week with some inspiration? There was a fantastic line-up of creative posts: Home Decor, DIY, Crafts, Recipes, Party Ideas, Tips and Tricks, and more. It's an awesome spot to find stuff to add to your Pinterest boards! Here are some that I spotted this weekend:

~Fall Front Door Decor via Imparting Grace

~Plain German Chocolate Cake via Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

~Fall Acorn Wreath via The Silly Pearl

Showcase Your Best Post of the Week {One More Day!}

Just wanted to remind you that there is one more day to link up to this week's Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. I'd love to see you there! I'll have a post with some Featured Project Ideas up tomorrow.

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 if you'd like your project considered for a feature. 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? Don't forget to link up to this week's link party...it went live yesterday, and I'd love to see your project there! Features will be up on Monday morning, so head over now.

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 located over at the party, or you can add a text link back to me within your post. Remember, I only feature projects that have a link back to me within the post.

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

Features coming soon!