Red White and Blue Almond Trifle
The delicious sweet taste of almond pound cake balanced with the slightly tart red and blue berries make this red white and blue almond trifle recipe a showstopper at your Independence Day gathering!
Today I’m sharing my favorite EVER strawberry shortcake recipe…with a twist. This Fourth of July, wow your potluck guests with this Red, White and Blue Almond Pound Cake Trifle.
My Summer Routine as a Work From Home Mom
This post, my summer routine as a work from home mom, is sponsored by FAGE; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Last year, I wrote a post my daily routine as a work from home mom. I was a little surprised by how many of you were interested in the ins and outs of my typical day. Because my children are all school age, that routine changes significantly in the summer! Today I’m going to share my summer routine as a work from home mom.
Top 20 Best DIY Mother’s Day Gifts
Thoughtful, homemade Mother’s Day gifts on a budget
I know I can’t be the only one who wracks my brain for Mother’s Day gifts every. single. year. Not only do the moms in my life all live out of state from us, but we are on a super tight budget! Today, I’m sharing some of the best ideas I’ve found for the top 20 best DIY Mother’s Day gifts on a budget.
- Homemade Watercolor Tea Towel – It doesn’t get any easier than this watercolor technique! Perfect for even the youngest kids to help out with. Even better, it makes such a pretty and practical gift!
- Bathtub Tray – I love this idea for a super simple DIY lucite bathtub tray! Totally waterproof, and matches any bathroom decor!
- Lavender Bath Soak – Take the Bathtub Tray idea up a notch by adding a relaxing Lavender Bath Soak and presenting it in a pretty jar. Get the recipe here.
- Cement Succulent Flower Pots – I’m still obsessed with these cement flower pots, and they are super easy to make! Cement doesn’t have to intimidating at all – check out this easy tutorial for creating your own!
- Garden Stone – We love to make handprint garden stones as precious markers of how the kids have grown over the years!
- Give her a hand – Okay, I really hope allll the husbands and kids out there are giving Mom a hand on Mother’s Day, but if you can’t be there to help, I love this simple idea for making life a little easier on Mom.
- Pamper Her with this DIY Leather Pouch – This no-sew leather pouch is easy to make and totally stylish and practical! Drop in a few of your favorite pampering gifts – like yummy hand lotion, or my favorite EVER lip balm for super dry lips (if you can get past the super crazy name!).
- Handwritten Heirloom Recipe Tea Towel – I absolutely love the idea of taking a handwritten heirloom recipe and putting it on a tea towel. Totally sentimental and useful. Check out how to make one here.
- Book Lover’s Gift Set – If she loves to read, give her a mini vacation basket, complete with a good book, chocolates, and a DIY leather bookmark. If you don’t sew – no worries! Just use a super strong, flexible all-purpose glue. Budget tip: upcycle an old purse from the thrift store to course your leather!
- Garden Gift Basket – This is attractive all on it’s own for a flower container, but I love this gift basket idea including custom garden markers and garden tools.
- Potted Picking Garden Flowers – I’ve been trying to grow my own flower picking garden, so lately I’ve been loving receiving peonies, hydrangeas, lilacs and more for Mother’s Day! Truly the gift that keeps on giving.
- Brunch – If you’re lucky enough to be with your mom for Mother’s Day, make her a special brunch (disclaimer: if you’re a mom yourself…schedule this for a day other than Mother’s Day so you can sleep in and get pampered by your kids!). I’m a huge fan of these Ham and Cheese brunch squares. Or, for something extra simple and a lot lighter, try these overnight Peaches ‘N Cream oats.
- Sunshine in a Basket – Okay, there just might be a floral theme on this list, but I’m obsessed with this cheerful gift basket idea. This collection of candles, chamomile, citrus, herbs, and a charming potted cactus would brighten anyone’s day.
- Framed photo or Photo Book – I mean, what mom wouldn’t love a photo of her kids or grandkids?
- Leaf Print Fabric – Am I overdoing it on the tea towel love in this list? Didn’t think so! 😉 They are such a great idea because they are inexpensive, thoughtful, and practical! I love this idea for leaf printing on fabric for more charming tea towels.
- Send Flowers – I’ve often sent flowers, simply because it can be hard to give a special Mother’s Day gift from out of state. It’s not always frugal, but flowers are always a good idea! Click here to get 20% off from FTD.
- Something Sweet – My mom and I both have a serious sweet tooth, so I love this cool idea for saying it with ice cream! Whip up a batch of your favorite homemade ice cream (like creamy lemon vanilla or cookie dough frozen yogurt), add a few toppings, and top it with this cool gift tag.
- Handwritten Card – Trust me – you can’t go wrong with a caring, handwritten card. Let Mom and Grandma know just how much you love her, and list every. single. reason. why.
- Digital Frame – Okay, so this one isn’t truly DIY…or frugal, but I’m obsessed with this digital frame because multiple family members can update it in real time, right from their phones! And, it’s so stylish and sleek compared to the digital frames of yesterday.
- Last Minute Gift – If all else fails and you’ve totally blown it this Mother’s Day…well, Mom doesn’t have to know. Give her a call (or even better, show up in person), tell her how much you love her and bring a card with a gift card to buy whatever she wants. Amazon gift cards are always a good idea! Buy and print (or e-mail) one in minutes.
Bring Spring Indoors with these DIY Spring Cleaning Mom Hacks
Simple, budget-friendly mom hacks and must-haves your grandma would be proud of.
This post is sponsored by Cascade pure essentials. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My grandma Edith lived one of the most simply abundant lives I’ve ever witnessed. Having lived through the Great Depression, my grandma lived a life that many consider trendy and novel now. She reused. Recycled. Upcycled. Ate from her farm and garden, and prepared meals from scratch. Dried clothes outside on the line. Many of her cleaning products were homemade… and her potpourri was, too!
This past year has been all about simplifying for our family. Inspired by my Grandma Edith – I’m sharing some easy tips for bringing spring indoors with simple, budget-friendly mom hacks and must-haves.
Avocado Egg Salad
This rich & creamy Avocado Egg Salad makes the perfect side dish or protein-packed lunch. Even better – it’s low carb, Keto- & Paleo-friendly.
Low Carb, Keto-Friendly Egg Salad with Avocados
A big thank you to Nellie’s Free Range Eggs for sponsoring this recipe. All opinions are mine alone.
Is anyone else out there sticking with their healthy eating resolutions for the year? I’m a little behind the ball and just starting to make improvements to my diet. I tend to get really bored when I try to eat healthier, so I’m constantly trying to switch things up. Today, I’m super excited to share my latest healthy recipe – an amazing Avocado Egg Salad.
The Avocado Egg Salad is a rich, creamy recipe that’s perfect as a side dish, or for a protein-packed lunch.
CREATIVE CIRCLE LINK PARTY #191
Our last link party for The Creative Circle. We are featuring twelve posts this week. Thanks for linking up with us every week.
Welcome to The Creative Circle – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
Greetings friend! Well, today is the day. Our last official party but we are thrilled to be featuring your amazing posts once last time. Each of us is sharing two so make sure to stop by your hosts. Thank you so much for linking up with us, we’ve had a blast getting to know new blogs and being able to provide inspiration from your wonderful posts to our readers. Please stick around as non of us are going anywhere! I encourage you to follow all of your hosts using the accounts below. If you would like to receive weekly updates from me, I send out freebies, printables, and new posts on a quarterly basis, just subscribe to my newsletter.
We’ve got a wonderful library of featured posts on our Pinterest The Creative Circle board showcasing our favorites from the last four years.
My first feature is so clever – I’m loving this deconstructed couch makeover by One Thousand Oaks. Such a stylish budget project! Hop on over to get all of the details.
My second feature follows the furniture makeover theme. I love this inspiration for flipping furniture by Orphans with MakeUp.
Follow your hostesses, please!
Feature Information:
Remember to visit the other hostesses to see if you were their feature!
If you wish to pin any of the individual projects features, please click through any pin from the original source.
If you were featured this week, we have a nifty button you can add to your blog.
And that’s a wrap! Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see around blogland!
Creative Circle Link Party #190
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
Next we each host will feature two posts, because sadly it will be our last Creative Circle party. We hope you will stick with us until the end!
This week I’m sharing a drool-worthy kitchen. It’s not your typical kitchen space…keep scrolling to see why!
Creative Circle Link Party #188
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
Today I’m sharing another fun room makeover. I love the look of exposed brick in a home…but I also am a huge fan of how open and bright it looks when brick is limewashed. Here is the before on this project. Keep scrolling to see the after as well as my co-hostesses’ favorite projects of 2018!
Low-Key Fancy New Year’s Eve
tips for throwing a simple but special NYE at home
This post is sponsored by Whole Foods Market . Must be 21+ to purchase alcohol, drink responsibly.
When I was a freshman in college (a looong time ago!), I had to have a minor ankle surgery over winter break. While the procedure was minor, it meant I would be laid up for New Year’s Eve.
My bestie took mercy on me and stayed in with me. We dressed up cute, grabbed some snacks and decor, and threw ourselves a totally memorable low-key party. Much to my surprise, what should have been a total downer of a night turned into the best New Year’s Eve I’d ever had.
That was the year I discovered that, for me, low-key was the best way to ring in the year.
This especially holds true today as a mom of three. After the craziness of the Christmas holiday and lots of travel to visit family, the whole family is ready for a relaxed night in.
But, it has to be special.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to throw a good party. The good news is, it doesn’t take much to make your gathering low-key fancy. Especially when you can get everything you need from your local Whole Foods Market.
Christmas Morning Emergency Kit
santa claus tool kit for tackling christmas emergencies
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PoweringtheHolidays #CollectiveBias
We’ve all been there. The last-minute dash to wrap gifts, stuff stockings, and assemble alll the things. Inevitably, we find we’re one critical thingamajig away from ripping through the brick fortress of toy packaging. One set of batteries away from creating Christmas magic. One gift away from checking everyone off your list.
Since our family often travels around the holidays, we’ve learned to become efficient over the years. Traveling means we have to be ready in advance for any potential Christmas-day gift crisis. Not because we’ve got it all together. But, because we’ve learned the hard way.
Today, I’m going to share my list for creating a Christmas emergency kit. Plus, to build your own, you can click batteries to receive a $5 Walmart eGift card with your $15 Energizer® battery or lights purchase .*
Holiday Survival Guide for Moms
4 Favorite FINDS FOR FEELING FESTIVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS
This post, Holiday Survival Guide for Moms, is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. All opinions are my own.
Hey Moms, are you still with me? How are you holding up? Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but this home stretch of the season is always HARD.
Amid all the wonderful tasks on our lists, baking, shopping, wrapping, packing….it’s easy to feel completely burnt out by the time Christmas arrives.
Today, I invite you take a small break from your ever-growing task list. I’m sharing a few things on my own little holiday survival guide.
Creative Circle Link Party #186
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This week’s feature focuses on my favorite room of the whole house to decorate: the boy’s room. Keep reading below to get the full tour of this beautiful makeover for small space living.
Creative Circle Link Party #185
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This week I’m loving this tutorial for decorating with fresh Cedar. Here is her before that so many of us can relate to! Keep scrolling to read all about it.
My Daily Routine as a Work From Home Mom
A big thank you to Chicken of the Sea for partnering with me on this post about my daily routine as a work from home mom. All opinions are my own.
Earlier this year I posted about all the ways I make a full-time income from home, and ever since then I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how I make it all work. As it turns out, there are many of you who feel the same way I do about wanting to do it all – work from home while being more present for family.
I’ll be honest – it’s been a nutty year of trying lots of new things and trying to balance it all, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. (…Unless being independently wealthy was on the table…then I’d totally take that.)
Today I’m sharing my daily routine as a work from home mom – which, as you’ll read, changes every single day.
What does my daily routine look like?
4:00 a.m.: Alarm goes off. Nope – not a typo!
I get dressed, make myself look (somewhat) presentable, grab a quick cup of coffee and head to my office to prepare for the first appointment of the day.
4:30 a.m.: Begin my morning side hustle: teaching ESL classes online. I love this work because it it’s fun and stress-free, and gives me the consistency I don’t always have with freelancing and blogging.
7:30 a.m.: Help my kids with the last of their morning routines, like brushing hair, signing forms, and packing lunches. 
Creative Circle Link Party #184
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This week I’m excited to share a glimpse into the before and after of Simply Beautiful By Angela. Here is her before that so many of us can relate to! Keep scrolling for the after, and to read all about it.
Creative Circle Link Party #183
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This week, the “impromptu porch renovation” by The Painted Hive totally made my jaw drop. I couldn’t believe the huge transformation she made on a dated entry, with a teeny budget. Keep scrolling to read all about it.
Creative Circle Link Party #182
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
I’m in love with the charming boy’s room for this week’s feature. Keep scrolling to get the full details!
Creative Circle Link Party #181
Thank you for linking up all things DIY, design or decor.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
How pretty is this week’s feature? Keep scrolling to get the full details!
How to Look Your Best (even with a thyroid disorder)
living your best life with thyroid disease
I have Grave’s Disease.
Whew. I’m glad I got that out of the way.
It can be hard to get up close and personal here on the blog, but I’ve become more and more convicted that I should share this part of my life. After all, thyroid disorder is increasingly common in America, and yet is still largely misdiagnosed and misunderstood.
I’ve struggled with the affects of this disease for years, and I’m sharing about it today in the hopes that it can help someone else.
Here’s my story.