Author Archive

It’s the 3 Little Things: Magicbox, Chipotle Really Fast, & Blanket Scarf Heaven

Friday, November 21st, 2014

It's the 3 Little Things

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you are having a good week!  I am so excited for tomorrow because I get to dig into my new fashion capsule. I have so many cozy sweaters for this one and, boy, does a girl need a cozy sweater in the Midwest.  I am just finishing up this lovely book (I can’t put it down!!! Have you read it?), listening to this book on audio, and this book with my husband over vino in the evenings. This is the first time I have tried working on three books simultaneously. It’s not confusing at all. Nope.

Here is my happiest of lists this week!

Magicbox Magicbox Speaker

Can you believe I had never purchased a speaker for my iPad/iPhone listening? I can be quite the cheapskate. Since I am getting addicted to audio books while I tidy the house/tackle my laundry piles and my latest obsession with Serial (did you hear episode 9?! Any thoughts on who did it?)  I decided it was time to get a speaker. I bought the Magicbox Speaker after reading all of the reviews and I love this little guy so much. It is Bluetooth-enabled so it can connect with your device and charges with a little USB cable that it comes with. The sound is really good- not Sonos quality, but really perfect for my laundry needs. I am one happy girl now that I don’t have to hold my phone to my ear to keep up with all my stories.

Blanket Scarf

Blanket Scarf Heaven

Since the temperatures have been so brutally cold here, I am really loving my blanket scarfs I made for myself this week. It feels weird to not be knitting scarves this year, but also a little liberating. I started a new poncho and I think that is going to be occupying my knitting time for awhile. I have been wearing these around the house as wraps when I get chilly and am so addicted to making these, I just might have to make a few more. No-sew crafting definitely makes this girl happy.

Chipotle Fast Food

Chipotle FAST & a Runner

I have been really busy here behind-the-scenes working on our bedroom reveal. My project ran into a snafu this week that I don’t want to talk about (this is a happy list, after all!) so it has been a busy week with me and a couple of paint brushes. Since I am gluten-free it is hard to find really good food that I can eat that doesn’t cost a fortune when I can’t make dinner. I have become a big fan of Chipotle for our family for those busy nights and discovering their online ordering process has made my week. We have our whole family set up with each of their orders in our account and it saves it for us. This makes it easy on my husband when I say, “Can you help me tonight and pick up dinner?” DONE.  The best part? SKIPPING THE LINE. Just go right to the front and grab it. If that doesn’t change your life, I don’t know what will.  I also am a proud owner of one tween boy who is a fantastic runner for me and runs in to pick up my order when it is ready. I love this kid to pieces especially when he brings me an orange soda.

Three Things I Wore From My Fashion Capsule (last week in my Fall capsule- aren’t you proud of me?).  Did you read what I am learning from this project? You must!  Grab more inspiration on my Fashion Capsule Pin Board and minimize that wardrobe!

all black + blanket scarf

Seamless Perfection Long Sleeve Tunic Dress in Black (purchased- Flourish Boutique)/The Essential Leggings in Black (owned- Flourish Boutique)/ Plaid Blanket Scarf (make one here!)/Brown Boots (6PM– Naturalizer)/Frames (Coastal)

stripes + chambray + black jeans + black boots

H&M Black & White Striped Top (owned- Goodwill)/Chambray Shirt (owned- Flourish Boutique)/Old Navy Rock Star Skinny Jeans in Black (owned- Old Navy)/Black Boots (6PM– Naturalizer)/Chevron Necklace (Charming Charlie)

LBD styling

Girl’s Night Out: Little Black Dress (owned- Flourish Boutique)/ Rosette Belt  (owned- Flourish Boutique)/Black Tights/ Heeled Black Boots (6PM– Naturalizer)/ Red Clutch (Francesca’s)/Gold & Black Bracelet (Forever 21)

LBD Styling 2 Ways

See this? SAME DRESS! I just wanted to show you how far I have come with my first capsule wardrobe. I felt like the woman on this one!

3 Things YOU Loved This Week (you, lover of MomAdvice things, you!)

9 Ways to Spice Up a Goodwill Lamp

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken

Easy 4-Row Snowflake Scarf

Bonus Happy! Anybody else half as excited as me?!?

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Now it’s your turn! What’s making you happy this week?

Amy’s Notebook 11.19.14

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Thankful Printable Placemat via Ella Claire

Source: Ella Claire

 

A thankful printable placemat– how perfect.

20 stores that refuse to open on Thanksgiving– do you shop them?

Recipes for a gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free holiday feast.

Have you tried making bread in the slow cooker?

A typeface designed to help dyslexics read- so awesome!

Have you visited any of these 10 intriguing small towns everyone should visit?

I love a good stripe project.

How can you not help when you read these?

Africa without Ebola via Washington Post

Source: Washington Post

 

The Africa without Ebola is eye-opening.

Do you know the 5 life stages of a roast chicken?

11 jobs where an honest day’s work earns you…poverty.

Finding a uniform– could you do it?

5 fun & creative ways to wrap small gifts.

15 quick and easy productivity super-hacks for busy bloggers.

The top 12 weekend habits of highly successful people.

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

Apron Full of Giveaways 11.18.14

Tuesday, November 18th, 2014

Cross-Back Denim Apron via Etsy

Source: Larklin,  $64.26

 

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!

Pin It

It’s the 3 Little Things: Podcast Binge, A Classic, & Friendsgiving

Friday, November 14th, 2014

It's the 3 Little Things

I’m sorry I am coming out with this a little late today. I was at my real-life book club discussing this amazing book this morning. I hope your weekend is off to a lovely start over there too!

Here is what is making me happy this week!

A Charlie Brown Christmas Record

A Charlie Brown Christmas Album

Yes, I am one THOSE people that listens to Christmas music waayyy too early and I don’t care what you think about it. We purchased  A Charlie Brown Christmas Album at Urban Outfitters in the collector’s edition red for our Christmas vinyl collection. I was preparing a holiday feast this week (more about that in a few) and listened to this while I got ready. I openly admit that I was pretty teary-eyed while listening to it over my coffee. There is something magical about hearing this album and hearing it on vinyl is like the twinkle lights on the whole affair.  I may have listened to it six times over the course of the day and I loved every moment of it.

Serial Podcast

Serial Podcast

Have you heard of Serial? My girlfriend shared it with me and I started listening in and I quickly became a Serial addict. This podcast, from the producers of This American Life (another addiction of mine) is about the murder of Hae Min Lee, who disappeared in 1999 when she was a senior at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County, Maryland. She was found strangled to death in a city park about a month later. Her ex-boyfriend, a fellow Woodlawn student named Adnan Syed, was convicted of killing her and sentenced to life in prison. He says he didn’t do it and Sarah Koenig is trying to figure out if he did it or not by interviewing the previous witnesses and piecing together all of the clues from the case that was established against Adnan. You can even view all of the evidence online- it is really incredible.

When I was a kid my parents watched Unsolved Mysteries and it reminds me of that except you get to feel like a detective as you analyze the clues on the site and listen to the interviews with a convicted murderer who says that he did not do it. There is a bit of controversy surrounding this podcast, but I hope it doesn’t overshadow the brilliance of this show and the idea behind it. I am hooked and I think you will be too.

Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving

Truth be told, I am a little late to the 3 Little Things game because of all the fun I had last night with my girlfriends. Did you see that I hosted my first Friendsgiving Feast? It was so much fun that I plan to do it every year for my girlfriends. I couldn’t have been happier to open my home to such a great group and writing that check today to provide 187 people a turkey dinner too is the icing on the cake. I feel so blessed to know these women and to share a meal with them, when our lives have become so busy, is a precious gift.

Three Things I Wore From My Fashion Capsule.  It’s my last week in my first capsule- I am SO PROUD. Did you catch my next capsule reveal? I hope you can join in on the fun!

pinstripes + big belt + rolled black jeans + driving moccasins

 

White House Black Market Blue Striped Collared Top (purchased second hand on Twice)/Old Navy Rock Star Skinny Jeans in Black (owned- Old Navy)/Belt (FOUND when I cleaned out my closet!)/Leather Driving Moccasins (owned- Target)

maxi skirt + tassel necklace + jean jacket + booties

The Must-Have Maxi in Burgundy (purchased- Flourish Boutique)/Not Afraid of the Dark Denim Jacket (purchased- Flourish Boutique)/Suede Booties (Old Navy)/ Tassel Necklace (owned- Groopdealz)

white shirt + rolled black jeans + camel booties + statement necklace

Converse White Collared Shirt (purchased- Target) (owned- Target)/ Old Navy Rock Star Skinny Jeans in Black (owned- Old Navy)/ Fitbit Cuff (handmade- read here!)/Mustard Beads (owned- Goodwill)/ Camel Suede Booties (Madden Girl- DSW Shoes)

3 Things YOU Loved This Week (you, lover of MomAdvice things, you!)

Quick & Easy Knitted Boot Cuffs

Homemade Peppermint Mocha Recipe

How to Make Quinoa in the Rice Cooker

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Now it’s your turn! What’s making you happy this week?

Amy’s Notebook 11.12.14

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

Turkey Cupcake Toppers via Oh Happy Day

Source: Oh Happy Day

 

Printable turkey cupcake toppers– so cute!

I love learning more about the tiny house lifestyle.

Winning at pie crusts.

A great guide to craft adhesives.

You can finally edit your captions in IG.

I love anything with a yarn tassel.

Oh, Mr. Rogers, I loved you!

DIY Styled Bookcase via Centsational Girl

Source: Centsational Girl

 

Madly in love with this bookcase for so very many reasons.

Ever wonder how to get huge portions at Chipotle?

Top 10 drugstore beauty products.

How ADHD is radically mistreated– thoughts?

What could happen if you left social media for a week.

A shelter for women that welcomes their pets, too.

This Halloween post made me laugh (because it is true). STRESS.

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

Apron Full of Giveaways 11.11.14

Tuesday, November 11th, 2014

Yellow Linen Half Apron via Etsy

Source: Linen And Tailor,  $49.00

 

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!

Pin It

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

Monday, November 10th, 2014

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

This post is sponsored on behalf of BHG at Walmart.

As part of the BHG Live Better Network, I am partnering with them this month to showcase a beautiful way to entertain for the holidays utilizing products from BHG that are available at Walmart.  Have you seen the woodland creatures line of dishes? Swoon- I am IN LOVE. These items are over in the seasonal display section of your store.  As someone who couldn’t be fonder of foxes or owls, I was so excited to see these beautiful dishes at the store and most of these items are under $3 each- what a fun way to dress up your table.

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

I used my basic white dishes as I do for every holiday and keep things economical by adding a fun design to my salad plates for the holidays each year. These owl plates are so sweet and add a little pop of color to my table. A natural table runner like this one helps add texture to my table and I used owl mugs to hold our forks and spoons for our dinner. The foxy salt and pepper shakers add a little woodland whimsy to round out the table.

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas I used driftwood log cuts from our craft store to add different dimensions to the table, added a jar of branches from our backyard, and then added my DIY thumbtack pumpkins to finish the table.

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

Crisp napkins made of stain resistant fabric are always top on my holiday shopping list for replacing each year. I found these over in the clearance section priced at a mere $1 each. I bought a package of rosemary, which adds a beautiful fragrance and a touch of green to the table, and clipped it with our free printable, “give thanks,” napkin tag and a mini clothespin.

You could also tie these napkins with a little jute twine and then clip the rosemary and, “gather together,” napkin tags to them, placing these on top of your owl plates. Print out all one variety of tag or use them both, alternating them at the place settings.

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

Even with my burlap runner, this entire table setting (minus my white dishes) costs just a little over $30 for everything. I love an affordable touch and really love these trendy pieces that BHG is offering this year for the Thanksgiving table. These would also be adorable for a kid’s table for the holidays!

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

We also have these beautiful woodland printables that you can print and hang in your kitchen or foyer to welcome your guests to match with the rest of our beautiful printable offerings this year! To help your guest feel warmly welcomed, my amazing designer & contributor, Sarah Milne with sarah m style, has created these amazing printables that you can share with your guests for Thanksgiving Day.

Grab Your FREE Woodland Creature Printables:

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free Woodland Thanksgiving Printables & Decor Ideas

DOWNLOAD HERE

Catch up on my other projects with BHG at Walmart:

Make a Guest Room Welcome Basket (Free Guest Room Printables)

BHG Live Better Style Showcase

BHG Live Better Network

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I received compensation from BHG at Walmart for my time and participation in the BHG Live Better Network. Although we have material connection to BHG, any publicly stated opinions of BHG and their products remain my own.

It’s the 3 Little Things: Free eBooks, Netflix Binge, & Audio Books

Friday, November 7th, 2014

It's the 3 Little Things

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you are having a wonderful week. I have big plans this weekend to paint my bedroom and bedroom furniture this weekend. I think I have been watching too many home improvement shows, to be honest.

Mattress Shopping

We spent a day yesterday ordering and purchasing new mattresses and bedroom furniture for everyone in the family. My son has outgrown his loft bed, my daughter has had the cast-off furniture that we purchased before we had kids, and we haven’t had a new mattress in almost 15 years. Of course, we have put all of this off for years because the idea of breaking down all of this furniture, finding new homes for it, the expense, and ridding ourselves of old mattresses sounds a bit torturous. The time has come so we are pressing forward. Did I mention I decided to do this the week I host all of my friends for a Friendsgiving dinner? Sure! Why not?

Here is what is making me happy this week!

Overdrive

Instant Reads

I never thought I would be the type of person that could read a book regularly on electronic format, but Overdrive through our library is transforming how I consume books. There is something so lovely about searching and instantaneously enjoying your book without leaving the comforts of your home… all for free. The best part, for me, is how many books are available that I want to read and that I can take them with me on my phone while waiting for my kids to get out of their lessons.

We decided that Santa will be bringing Kindle Fires this year for the kids so that they can take advantage of free books through the library too. It’s a big deal to get an electronic in our house, but the parental controls on it will help us manage how long they are on it for purposes other than reading. Since they each have their own library cards, they can check these books out on their own accounts and will save us some hassle wrangling books each week to drag back to the library.

I will still always love a good old-fashioned book, but electronic books are helping me consume more and saving me some time running back and forth to the library!

I read this book and this book this week through it and absolutely loved them both!

Rehab Addict

Netflix Binge Sessions

I have been binging on Netflix these days thanks to a huge release of Food Network, HGTV shows, TLC, and DIY Network offerings that have found their way on Netflix. If you haven’t been indulging,  you may be missing out on wasting a ton of time like me.

Here is what I am indulging in this week:

Rehab Addict– This is seriously my new favorite show. This woman is amazing and refurbishes old homes back into their former glory. Both my husband & I have learned a ton on restoring your home and furnishings. It’s my new favorite thing and I’m sad that I am almost through all of the offerings on Netflix already.

The American Scream– Fantastic documentary about a neighborhood that decks their houses out for Halloween. They make their own homemade haunts and have such passion for their creations that they spend all year preparing for this one evening of fun for their neighborhood. Not for the kiddos due to a couple of language moments, but I absolutely loved this one.

Restaurant Impossible & Cupcake Wars– Need I say more?

The Caller– One of the best psychological thrillers I have seen in a long time and reminded me of some of my very favorite Hitchcock films. The ending is open to interpretation and sent me on a hunt on IMDB to see what people thought about it. Seriously, it’s a can’t miss if you enjoy a good thriller.

Audio Books

Knitting & Audio Book Sessions

I took a little knitting hiatus because I have been so busy with other projects. Tackling my felted knitted pumpkins has me back in the mood again though. I feel rather ambitious to be tackling my first knitted poncho. I purchased this pattern and am currently working on the front of the poncho right now.

Knitting in silence isn’t my thing and this pattern requires a bit of concentration so I decided to try my first audio book on Overdrive (again- love it!!).  I am listening to this one and enjoying it so much. I always have felt like I have to make a choice between knitting and reading so not choosing is making me very happy. I like that I can crank up the speed on the book too. I’m a fast talker and a speed reader. This helps me to keep my usual pace while tackling a big project at the same time.

In fact, I will probably be doing that while I paint this weekend!

Three Things I Wore From My Fashion Capsule.  Did you read what I am learning from this project? You must!  Grab more inspiration on my Fashion Capsule Pin Board and minimize that wardrobe!

Winter-2014-Fashion-Capsule-Wardrobe

 I was too busy preparing this for you to snap any selfies this week. I hope you enjoy taking a peek into the next collection!

 

3 Things YOU Loved This Week (you, lover of MomAdvice things, you!)

Rainbow Cake in a Jar With Cloud Frosting

Knitted Snowflake Scarf Pattern

How to Make a Homeless Care Package

Bonus Happy! This made me laugh until I cried. So true, so true…

 

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Now it’s your turn! What’s making you happy this week?

Pin It

Fun New Ways to Dress Up Boots For Fall

Thursday, November 6th, 2014

Fun New Ways to Dress Up Boots For Fall

As soon as the temperatures start dipping, I know it is almost my favorite footwear season… boot season, friends!

There is nothing cozier than a warm pair of boots and this season, embellished boots and boot toppers are all the rage for making your boots feel fresh again.

Whether you score your boots at Goodwill or if you find the perfect pair elsewhere, I have some fun and creative ideas for making a tired pair of boots feel like new again with these 7 tutorials for fun ways to dress up your boots.

Add Some Fringe

Fringe boots are quite popular this year, but buying fringe boots might be out of your boot budget.

Instead of buying a bootie for a passing trend, check out these DIY Fringe Shoe Clips from Clones N Clowns made from a simple shoe clip and a little leather or faux leather (depending on your budget).

These look like they are part of the bootie, but are removable.

I love these not only for how customized these look, but also for how much space you can save by not buying multiple pairs of boots for one trend.

 

 

Make No-Sew Sweater Boots

If last season’s boots are looking tired or if you find a pair of UGG boots at Goodwill (which I REALLY have, if you can believe it!) adding a beautiful sweater detail can be a great way to refresh them for another season.
Since this blogger does not sew, I really love this fun no-sew sweater cuff that you can create from la vie DIY that can hide any imperfections in your boots.
The button detail could also be created with brooches, pins, or earrings that you find in the store!

Add Embellished Boot socks

If there is one thing that you can find at Goodwill in these Fall & Winter months, it is definitely loads of cozy sweaters.

This fun tutorial from My Sister’s Suitcase showcases adorable embellished boot socks you can create from old sweater sleeves.

The picture highlighted here showcases a fun striped sweater sleeve embellished with a ruffled ribbon detail, perfect for a little trick-or-treat fun for Halloween!

Add a Knitted Detail

I can’t sew, but I can knit so this past Fall, I created these easy knitted boot cuffs out of chunky yarn and big needles.

Thanks to the needle size and yarn, this is a fast and easy two hour knit project.

I highly recommend this project for someone who is just learning to knit in the round or as a first-time cabling project.

I promise that cabling looks far more complex than it really is and this is such a fun project to master the art of cabling since it is so small and quick!

I gave these beauties away to my best friend and have promised a few pairs for myself this year when I get back to knitting again this winter!

Add Faux Fur

Not only is fringe in this season, but faux fur seems to be enjoying its time in the Fall spotlight too.
I love a beautiful fur detail and these faux fur boot cuffs can transform a tired pair of boots into something new and on-trend.
Clones N Clowns strikes again with this adorable faux fur addition to her boots.
Be sure to scroll down all the way through the pictures to see how she adds this same adorable detail to a pair of Converse sneakers.
Say what?!
Awesome!

Add A Legwarmer Layer

Many tutorials showcase how you can use the top of a sweater sleeve to create a boot cuff, but why stop there?
With Indiana winters, I love an extra layer around my legs so consider using that whole sleeve off a second hand sweater as leg warmers to add warmth in these colder temperatures.
I love to look for sweaters with lots of details like striping, as pictured here, polka dots, or ones with interesting cables.
You can get the whole scoop on these DIY legwarmers made from a sweater on Petit Elefant.

Add a Little Lace

My favorite trends are always the very feminine ones and you can’t get more feminine than a little lace.
That is why I absolutely love these boot cuffs made from lace doilies for a fast and fun DIY boot cuff project.
These “pretend frilly socks” from Blah Blah Magazine are fast to create and can be embellished with a beautiful button to finish.

What are some fun ways you dress up your boots for Fall? Feel free to leave your ideas in the comments section below!

Excited for Fall? Check out more Fall crafts on MomAdvice.com:

 

Apple Wreath Tutorial

 

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Candles

 

No-Sew Blanket Scarf

 

No-Sew Scarf with Hidden Pocket

 

 

This post contains affiliate links

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Pin It

Amy’s Notebook 11.05.14

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

Waffle Iron Churros via Serious Eats

Source: Serious Eats

 

A new use for the waffle maker- extra-crispy churros? YES PLEASE!

Did you know you could dye yarn in your slow cooker?

The secret history of Wonder Woman– fascinating!

More inspiration towards a clutter-free life.

American schools are training kids for a world that doesn’t exist.

The Internet Archive has added a collection of 900 video games from the 1970s to 1990s that can be played in your web browser — no coins required.

Can’t wait to read this book and listen to this interview.

iPhone editing via Kelly Purkey

Source: Kelly Purkey

 

Great tutorial for editing photos right in your phone.

How to throw a tortured artist party.

The secret dual lives of people living with mental illness.

iPhone 6 tricks you probably don’t know – but should.

I needed to read this.

Avocado toast with pears, gorgonzola and cinnamon toasted walnuts- yum.

Grow someone past you– such a good reminder for this competitive soul.

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!