Top posts of 2013

Its been a great year! Full of firsts and amazing opportunities. I feel blessed and I am so thankful for all of my readers and supporters. This blog wouldn't exist without YOU so thank you from the bottom of my heart. You allow me to do what I love. This has been a year full of tutorials, DIY, fashion, fitness and everything that makes me me, so I am going to start this week with a little post highlighting my top posts from 2013. Enjoy! And make sure to check them out.

 

 Anthropologie Inspired Knot Bedding Duvet {Tutorial}

This has got to be my favorite tutorial I have put on the blog. Mostly because a lot of blood, sweat and yes even tears went into this project. I love it because I am proud of it. I love it and will now probably never change my bedding. This is a great tutorial because it is so detailed and I am a beginner at sewing so seriously if I can make this YOU CAN!!! Thank you to Kojo Designs for the inspiration, I share with you my tweaks from their tutorial to make it even easier for us beginners and more washable for moms or babies and toddlers around. Check it out!!! Favorite Favorite! 

Being a Mom is the Best Job in the World

Yes, I truly believe that being a mom is the best job in the world. No, it is not perfect. No, it isn't always glamorous. Yes, it can be hard....even very hard.But it is the Most rewarding job in the entire world. It has the most sweet moments that I could never ever forget. The love that these two little boys bring to my life is indescribable. It is beautiful and so powerful. Read more of my thoughts on the post.

 At Home Busy Mom workouts {Part 1}

It is no secret how big of a part fitness plays a part in my life. I love to participate and I love to share it. So make sure to check out the three posts I have done so far full of at home workout ideas YOU can do. Look out for some more in 2014.

Sweet and Tangy Meatballs

You have got to check out this family favorite recipe. It is fast, easy and so delicious. Both my 1 and 3 year old boys love this dinner. Who doesn't want a recipe idea that you don't have to fight your kids to eat.

What I Wore {Birthday Celebration}

I love fashion. I love sharing what I wear and I especially love when I can put together a very in style and fashionable outfit for a great price. We all love a deal, we all love to save money and look good doing it right?! This is one of my favorite WIWW from this year. Simple, stylish, comfortable and a little bold.

Easy Superhero Capes

I made these darling capes for Maddux's birthday party this year for him and all of his friends. It was a super hero theme and we took the kids to the trampoline park to let them fly! It was a blast and then best part is how easy and fast these are to make and cheap hello!! Full tutorial on the link.

DIY Pallet Headboard

This is probably my second favorite project from this year and another one I am proud of. I love pallets and the rustic but chic look they can bring into home design. I knew I had to get my hands on some and when I did this is what happened. Full tutorial on the link

Celebrating the Success of Others

Last year in March one of my favorite shows, Studio 5, had this as their theme for the whole month. It really hit me. I feel like sometimes I can be a jealous person. I compare myself to others and I get upset when I do not live up to par. How silly is that. We are all different. We are all unique. We are all made to be true to ourselves. I loved this theme, because it helped me to see the beauty and success and amazing talents in others and how they are able to make the world a better place through those talents and skills.

USA Silhouette Slate Sign

I love this simple, but beautiful sign that I made. It represents so much to me. 4th of July is one of my very favorite holidays. I love celebrating the country that I feel so thankful and blessed to live in. We can accomplish anything here. We can be ourselves. It is where dreams come alive. And I am darn proud to be an American.

My Top 5 Packing Tips for a Move

My family moved to a new home in July and it is a lot of work. So I compiled 5 of my favorite tips for helping to make your next move more organized, less stressful and well easier. Go check it out to see what they are.

Crossfit Week one

This fall I started my crossfit journey in our garage with my brother. Go and read how it started, what we are doing and what is means for me in my fitness journey. Already this new year this journey has taken a turn to a gym and is getting more serious. I am so excited to see what this new year and new experience will bring to me in my life.

Ikea Table Makeover

Just a little furniture makeover that was easy, quick, cheap and made a huge difference in the look.

My ten minute Makeup routine

Who likes to take hours to get ready? Not this girl, but I do still like to look put together. I am a mom, I am busy and I just don't have time to take all the time in the world, so after many mornings of trying routines and products out I think I have got it done because well it doesn't take me any longer than 10 minutes. Come and see what I do and what I use.

Wood Chalkboard Banner

Love this gem. Easy, fast, cheap and it can be used all year round, in any room for just about anything. I love to make projects that can be used for many purposes.

Chevron Board backdrop

This ditty just came to be when I felt like I needed a little color and something tall to put behind some of my V-day decor and now I am able to use this backdrop all the time. Full tutorial on the link.

Painting Furniture Series from the Pinners Class

One of the highlights of this last year was being asked to be a teacher at the first ever and very successful pinners conference and expo. They asked me to teach a class on redoing and painting old wood furniture. I was nervous and so excited. Once I had everything set up and the classes started the nerves completely left I was like a new person up there. I love to teach and when it is something I am passionate about it is even easier and more enjoyable. It went awesome both of my classes were sold out and so I decided to share with all of my readers who couldn't make it to the class all my tips and tricks in this series of 4 posts so make sure to check them all out. all four links in the post link above.

Ikea metal trivet to necklace organizer, and mini flip calendar

Another highlight of this year is I was asked to be on Studio 5 three times. Seriously a dream come true. I fell so blessed to say I was on a show I watch everyday and love so much. This post was from the last segment I did on turning ordinary ikea items into something extraordinary for less than $10. So much fun check them out.

DIY Bright Marquee Letters

These are my favorite Christmas decor items aside from the tree. They were so happy "bright" and the glittery goodness made me happy every time I turned the corner or walking in my home and saw them. Make some of your own for every holiday!!!

DIY A-Frame Play tent

As a mom of two boys I knew I had to make them one of these bad boys. I have been seeing them around for a while, but when I figured out how to make my own easily and for much cheaper I knew I had to share it with all of you moms out there.

DIY headwrap Tutorial

This is one of my most popular posts. Headwraps are use right now and I m obsessed. I love them on he fashion side and I love them on the practical side to wear while working out.You can make your own by following the tutorial I laid out for you, or I will be opening up an etsy shop very shortly to sell them, so stay tuned for that announcement and all that goodness.

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Buttercream frosting & some cake to go with it {Recipe}

I made these cupcakes and a fun batman cake for my little M's 3rd birthday party which was all about superheroes and I was getting a lot of compliments on the cake so I thought I would share my secrets with you. I love me some box cakes they are fast and easy and I am all about that, but I have found through trying different things for a while the best concoction to making them much more scrumptious and moist. Nothing like a moist cake! mmmm.

Ok so here is the secret you are going to follow the recipe on the back of the box but replace the oil with the same amount of butter {softened at room temperature} and replace the water with milk or buttermilk {I used 2%}. Then the same amount of eggs the box says. Then you are going to mix it all up, and bake as directed. I promise just those two easy replacements {of ingredients you have in your fridge anyway} will make your cakes and cupcakes so much better!

Oh man can I just say that funfetti cake batter is my weakness. My mouth is watering just looking at this and with the butter and milk it is pure heaven I tell ya.

Ok now that was easy peasy now onto Julie's homemade butter cream frosting. My mother in law, Julie, used to make wedding cakes and all sorts of birthday cake and she is so fabulous at it seriously I used to love when I was at her house when she was making them. So fun to watch. Anyway her buttercream frosting is so so yummy and it is what I make when I am making cupcakes so here ya go...enjoy:

{Ingredients}\
-1/2 cup shortening
-1/2 cup margarine
-2/3 cup milk
-1 teaspoon vanilla {I actually put in more because I love vanilla}
-Enough powdered sugar for the consistency that you want. You will want to get a 2 lb bag but you wont use the whole thing. 

{Directions}
Mix your shortening, butter, milk and vanilla with your beaters until well blended then you are going to add your powdered sugar one cup at a time mixing your frosting between each cup. Keep adding powered sugar until it is the consistency you are wanting. 

I found these adorable super hero prints HERE. Then I just simply cut them out and taped them onto half of a striped paper straw. And there you have a super cute easy cupcake topper. Perfect for that super hero birthday party.

 
It is safe to say they were a success the kids and adults all liked them, But most importantly the birthday boy was in heaven

I made this guy with the same recipes. Cute right! I was pretty proud that I did this all by myself. Plus a cute cake is fun but its really all about what it tastes like. Am I right?!

These recipes are linked up HERE

Not just a housewife,   Me and My Boys, Adventures of a DIY mom
 Snap, Sew Much Ado, The Trendy Treehouse, Someday Crafts,

Lil Luna, Sugar and Dots, Southern Lovely, Rolled up Pretty,

 

You can find M's superhero birthday post HERE and the Superhero cape tutorial HERE.

 You bet I had some left over cold cake for breakfast the next morning. Why not. I ran it off later :)

Pin Pin pin! Don't forget to pin for later. And go and make yourself a cupcake. You know you want to!

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Colored Deviled Eggs {Recipe}

I know, I know Easter is over, but this is the perfect thing to do with all those left over eggs you have laying around from the Easter bunny this weekend. Also A great PIN to put on your board and to remember for next year's festivities, right?! Yes, ma'am {and sirs, if there are any of you reading) I think so! Anyway back to these beauties. I also think these would be so beautiful for of course Easter, but also a wedding shower, a baby shower, a spring wedding or get together, not to mention they are to die for {my hips hate me right now} type of yumminess. 

In this post I am going to show you how I made them the pretty colors and give you my recipe for the amazing filling. 

{Needed for the colored eggs}

-18 hard boiled eggs

-food coloring

-water

{How I did it}

-First of course you are going to boil your eggs. My dad makes the perfect hard boiled eggs so of course I did his method. Place eggs in a pot, putting them in a circular pattern following the bottom of the pot only putting one layer of eggs in, fill up the pot with water just an inch over the eggs. Boil for 15 minutes, put in sink and run under color water until all the water is really cold, dump out the water until it is barely covering the eggs, then put a ton of ice in the pot covering all the eggs. Keep in the ice bath for about 15 minutes. There you go the perfect hard boiled egg thanks to Daddy Jacobs!!!!

Then you are going to peel all the eggs, rinse them under cold water to make sure all the peel is off, then cut them in half long ways

Scoop out the yolk and put it in a mixing bowl, and set aside for later.

Once all of your eggs are peeled, cut, and gutted it is time to color them.

This is so easy. I did a purplish pink, yellow, blue and green. You will need four mugs or bowls, food coloring and water

Purple-  14 drops of red and 6 drops of blue plus one cup of water
Blue- 20 drops of blue plus 1 cup water
Green- 20 drops of green plus 1 cup water
Yellow- 20 drops of yellow plus 1 cup of water

place your egg white half into the coloring for about 30 seconds

Then you are going to put them on a paper towel face down to dry. And because it is just water and food coloring they are safe to eat and they taste just the same as if you didn't color them at all. Aren't they so pretty, and even more enticing to eat?! While those are drying lets work on the filling now shall we.

{Ingredients you will need}

-18 yolks from the eggs you boiled

-3/4 cup mayo

-1/4 yellow mustard

-salt to taste

-Paprika 

-Sandwich bag

{Directions}

With a fork you are going to mash up all the yolk, then you are going to add your mayo and mustard and just mix it with a hand mixer until it is smooth. Then you will add salt to taste and mix that in for about 30 seconds making sure it is mixed evenly.

I used to work at a deli in a grocery store and we would make these all the time. I tried to figure out their recipe but since theirs was for like 100 eggs and we wouldn't ever measure I just made this up as I went and I LOVE how they turned out. You will not be disappointed.

Next you will scoop all your filling into a bag, cut a tiny bit off the top and start filling up all the eggs

You will probably have some extra filling not to worry just put it on some bread and it makes an amazing sandwich.

The last step is you are going to take your paprika and just sprinkle it on the top of each of your eggs. It makes it pretty and gives it just the right amount of extra flavor needed.

I made these for Easter dinner and they were quite the popular appetizer.

Oh, you guys I am telling you you will love me for sharing this. My mouth is watering just writing this post. So pin it, share it, make them for a party, or just because, but MAKE THEM!!!! and I will go make some more right now!

These are linked up HERE

 Keeping it Simple, Craft O Maniac, Not just a housewife,  Me and My Boys,

 Adventures of a DIY mom, Snap, Sew Much Ado, The Trendy Treehouse,
 Someday Crafts, Lil Luna, Sugar and Dots, Southern Lovely, Rolled up Pretty,

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