Friday Faves {no. 8}

This week probably could not have gone any slower...we're still  waiting for baby girl to decide she wants out. Seeing as we tried to keep her in for 4 months I thought we would have no problem when it was time. Apparently, she's pretty content to stay where she is :) Here are some things I've been loving the last couple weeks. Let's not talk about how most of them are food related, I am pregnant.

1. I am LOVING that sonic has half off shakes after 8pm all summer. Let's just say I have sent my husband out a lot the last couple weeks to fetch me a chocolate shake...

2. I also love that Insurgent came out. (the sequel to Divergent) It was so good and now I can't wait for number 3 :)

3. I have been loving being able to cook again and since I have been craving chocolate chip cookies my entire pregnancy was so excited to make my mom's recipe AND have them actually turn out. That is a feat people. I will definitely be posting her recipe because her cookies are amazing. However, don't be mad when they don't turn out. I've tried them maybe 100 times and this was the first time they tasted somewhat like hers. I think she leaves out a super secret ingredient...

4. This is the best idea. ever. I either need to start making some asap OR convince my husband that remote start for our car is a necessity with 3 babies in AZ heat. I'm voting for remote start but pretty sure I'll end up making them...

5. I think this is such a great idea. I always use up so much counter space for fruit that this would be very convenient. Or maybe for bread?...I'm going to need make me one. I've been feeling very ambitious lately with the projects I want to take on but I think I need to remember I'm having a baby next week. Weird.

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Teacher Thank You & Printable

Our Thank You for Miss B’s preschool teacher this year was simple. Maybe we’ll get a little more creative next year ;) We love her teacher and think she is amazing with the kids so I knew we had to do something for her! We got the flower pot from Hobby Lobby and painted it with some fun yellow paint. Brynlee helped me make the flowers. Printed off the simple little messages and that was it…gotta love a project that is quick and easy! I know I’ve been MIA the last couple weeks but I have been thoroughly enjoying the time with my two little munchkins before our bundle of joy arrives. I have a feeling the divas will be feeling a little under appreciated once the baby comes and have been trying to spend every second playing with them. Hope you all have some fun summer plans planned! IF you haven’t figured out a teacher gift yet, feel free to print these off :) You could definitely use the bloom for real flowers, or fabric flower clips or pretty much anything flower related. And the Break I used to tie in the kit-kats. Who doesn't enjoy chocolate??

download here

download here

Yummiest Banana Cake

I decided to repost this because I've had a lot of people asking me for the recipe. I have to tell you this is the yummiest cake ever. My husband and I can clean out a pan in one sitting. Don't Judge.  Just trust me and make this and you'll never go back to baking banana bread again with those over ripe bananas...

So I've been in a baking mood lately...Yes it's a little crazy with two kids under 2 years old. But, when I get a total of 3 hours of sleep and there's no hope of getting a nap I have to keep myself crazy busy or I remember how exhausted I am...So after failed attempts at homemade bread and cinnamon rolls, I decided to use up my ridiculously ripe bananas and try this banana cake...yummm It's SO good and moist (I can't believe I just used one of my top 3 grossest words...) Here are the recipes and I'm also posting this to Basic Bites

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 c. flour
• 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 2/3 c. sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp. soda
• 2/3 c. butter, at room temperature
• 4 mashed bananas, large
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 c. buttermilk or plain yogurt (I used vanilla yogurt because Ialready had some and it turned out fine)
• 2/3 c. chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together: flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and soda. Then add: butter, and bananas. Beatthoroughly, then add: eggs, buttermilk, chopped nuts and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Pour into a greased & floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. When cooled, top with Cream Cheese frosting.

"Sprinkles" Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz of cream cheese, very soft
4 oz of butter, very soft
1/8 tsp salt
4 cups of powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Beat the cream cheese and butter with the salt until light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, and the vanilla - beat until smooth and creamy.

Friday Faves {no. 7}

Is it Friday again already?? I feel like the weeks are flying by now...Maybe because we're getting close to the baby coming and it doesn't seem so far away. Now I feel like pressure is on to get the house ready for a newborn again! Here are some of my faves from this week...

1. Gotye. Where have I been?? Oh that's right stuck in my house...not listening to the radio. My sister showed me their song the other day and I've been wanting to buy their cd ever since.

2. Swagbucks. Anyone else love it like me?? I'm the type to google everything. Just ask my husband. 99% of the time when we are debating something it ends up in "I'll google it!". But instead of using google I use swagbucks. I just earned another $5 gift card to amazon for my kindle books. LOVE IT!

3.  Fun. I've loved The Format since I can remember so naturally I love the band Fun. too. I'm dying to get their cd as well. Maybe I'll be using my amazon gift cards on music instead...

4. These lace crowns have got to be the cutest thing I've seen. Ever. I'm going to have to make some of these for my girls...

5. I need to makeover my bathroom asap. This is exactly what we need in our master bath. Seeing as we have ZERO storage in there...PS I know the pin leads to nowhere but I can't find the right link to save my life!! I've searched all over pinterest, google and swagbucks and can't find it?? But it's a good picture for inspiration to show my husband when I recruit him to do it for me ;)

Friday Faves {no. 6}

1. I love this zig-zag tray. It’s sold, but I feel like it would be an easy DIY. Now I just need to find me a tray to paint.

2. These pillows are darling. I need to make them for my girls room asap.

3. These swim cover ups would be perfect for beach & lake trips. Except, I keep forgetting I’ll have a newborn this summer so we’ll see if I even make it out of the house ;)

4. This blanket is adorable. Now if only I could crochet…

5. Yet, another reason to learn how to crochet…

Happy Tax Day!

 

Anyone else frantically trying to file their taxes? No? Just us?? I swear we are the epitome of procrastination around here. BUT happy news! Sonic has Happy Hour allll day today. So go enjoy a giant vanilla coke…or whatever your vice may be. You know I am :)

Friday Faves {Garden Party no. 5}

Scrap Busting Bows

So, as I’ve said before, I hoard my fabric scraps. It’s true. I can not seem to throw them away. I feel like I will always find a way to use them, and I usually do. Since I’ve been hanging out in bed so much lately I decided to organize all my fabric/felt scraps by color into zip-loc bags. Yes, these are the types of projects you come up with while on bed rest to keep busy :). While I was going through them I realized how many cute fabrics & combinations I had in teeny tiny scraps. Then I got to thinking that I should make some cluster bows. Brilliant! These bows are so much fun to make and use up all those itty bitty scraps you may be saving. Or not. Now I have a bag full of bows that I just need to assemble into headbands/clips. So. Much. Fun. Maybe I love it so much because otherwise I’d be reading yet another book or watching another pointless show on Netflix. I’m officially on the downhill of bedrest and it feels oh so good! I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. K that might be a little too dramatic but I can’t tell you how excited I am to mop my floor and go grocery shopping. Two things I loathed 6 months ago.

Here are some pictures of the clips/headbands I’ve made, maybe it’ll give you some inspiration. How fun would it be for a craft night for everyone to bring a bunch of individual little flowers they’ve made and then mix and match with everyone else’s to make some super cute headbands?

 

“K mom quit taking pictures of me. I’m done”

Hahah I love the faces I get from Miss B while taking pictures. She has some pretty sassy poses and some pretty fiesty faces she can pull off…Hope you all are enjoying your week!

Friday Faves {Easter Ideas}

Here are my Friday Faves this week...it's only fitting that it's Easter themed :) I'm going to be storing these away on my Pinterest board for next year. My poor girls will be getting a pretty boring Easter experience this weekend, so next year we'll be making up for it! Enjoy and have a wonderful Easter!

1. These are some cute embellished shirts I plan on making next year...

viahttp://thisismeinspired.blogspot.com/2011/04/make-bunny-shirt.html

via

via

2. These are so fun. The girls would love them!

3.  How cute are these?? And super east/fast to make...

via

4. Better Homes and Gardens has some really fun and simple ideas that I just adore.

5. We all know I love me a good banner. Too bad I have too many for Spring as it is...This one is lovely.

via

Friday Faves {no.3}

Who knew I’d actually keep up with this? Maybe I’ll actually stick with blogging once a week! Here are some of my faves from this week…

1. Extra Strength Tylenol I’ve been fighting the flu/a cold this week so I have been taking this around the clock. OH but I can’t wait to get back to good old Advil & Exedrin Migraine. Those are the real headache killers and I love them.

2. Colored Skinny Jeans. I want these mint jeans so. bad. Too bad when I actually will be able to start wearing normal clothes again it will be 180 degrees here. But, maybe I can buy every color for my girls and live through them :)

3. Fun Nails. I feel like there have been so many fun nail designs & colors pop up lately. I think this needs to be my next color combo…

4. Jamba Juice. There is nothing better than a freezing cold smoothie when you have a sore throat. My Carribean Passion hit the spot this week.

Hope you all have a fun weekend and enjoy the sunshine! 

Spring has arrived..

It’s officially Spring and I’m loving it. I’m dying to get out into the nice sunny weather. While I can just dream of going outside, I have been looking at some fun Spring décor to bring indoors. Here are some of the jewels I found. I’m loving the wreaths and think I need a new wreath this season. Now, to convince the husband to go to the craft store for me  

via

via

via

 

Annnnd I thought I should include some pics from my last year’s Spring décor. I’m thinking it needs some sprucing up. We’ll see what I can figure out! I hope you' all are enjoying your Spring so far!

Find the banner tutorial HERE

 

Found HERE

Found HERE

Tutorial found HERE

Friday Faves {books}

With all my spare time I've been reading  a lot of books. Here are some of my Faves :)

1. Hunger Games. Of course. I had to mention this series, because it's amazing. enough said.

2. Matched Trilogy. Loved it and can't wait for the third to come out!

3. Divergent. I'm still in the middle of this one but it's SO good so far. I'm hooked! The only problem is that these 3 are very similar and I am now getting all of the plots mixed up. I'm definitely going to have to re read Hunger Games before I go see the movie.Anyone seen it yet??I can't wait!!

4. Anew: Archers of Avalon. My Mom found this book through a co-worker, I believe but it's way good.I like the way the author writes. I think she's a pretty new author and I think she's great! I can't wait for the 2 to come out...She also wrote another book called "Sophie &Carter" and it was really cute.I liked it a lot and definitely recommend it!

I feel like when I'm reading a lot, I get on kicks of what types of books I'm reading.Obviously right now I'm on kind of a Futuristic streak. I'm thinking about reading The Uglies series next.Anyone read them? Loved or Hated them??Any suggestions on other books to start next??

Friday Faves

So, I’ve decided to share some of my latest favorites today…These are things that are getting me through our bedrest days…

1. Sock Buns. I pretty much wear my hair like this 75% of the time around here. It’s the easiest hair style in the world. Plus, paired with my millions of scrap jersey headbands there’s no going wrong. So easy, SO comfy. No headaches, No hair in my face. Win-Win! While I’m confessing my laziness I might wear sweatpants every day of my life. Unless I have a dr. appt. Or am needing a much needed “pretend I’m going out day” Yes, some days I pretend I’m going somewhere, put makeup on, get dressed (shoes & all) and lay on the couch all day. Whatever gets me through right??

2. Cadbury Eggs. Ah, these are so delicous/addicting. I may or may not be onto my 3rd bag of the season. Don’t. Judge. Me.

3. Netflix. Oh my, this has gotten us through many slow days. I’ve always thought netflix was lame and that we would never really use it. Until I got put on bed rest. Now it is our saving grace. That may be a little extreme, but entertaining a 2 & 3 year old all day, while laying in bed isn’t the easiest task. It also has kept Kyle & I entertained and has become our “date night” We find a movie for the girls, find a movie for us, pop some popcorn and enjoy. Don’t be jealous :) I can’t wait for a real date night out! In approximately 8 more weeks…

P.S. Any recommendations on favorite movies or shows we start? They would be greatly appreciated.

P.P.S. Don’t ever watch Hoarders while on bed rest. Or maybe ever. It was the worst idea I’ve ever heard. I had the biggest urge to purge everything from our house, and I couldn’t do anything about it.Maybe I’ll watch it after the baby comes and our house will actually be clutter free?

 

 

4. Pinterest. Not surprised? I love the app on my phone for pinterest. Except that its really slow, and kicks me out half the time. But, I love that I can be browsing and also making sure my girlies aren’t attacking each other, all at the same time! The only downfall of perusing Pinterest all day? I now have 5 million things on my to-do-list. I’m hoping this little lady of mine gives me at least a week or two before she makes her debut, so I can get some stuff accomplished.

 

5. Hanging with Friends/Let’s Draw Something? (is that what it’s even called?) I’ve gotten completely addicted to playing games on my phone. So thanks friends for playing me back and keeping me entertained :)

 

*Next week I’m thinking I’ll share my favorite books that I’ve been reading lately. Heaven knows I’ve been doing a lot of it :) AND if you have any good book recommendations feel free to post them! I’d love to hear some…*

Easy Peasy St. Patty’s Day Necklace

Since my girls have zero green in their wardrobe I decided to make a little accessory for St. Patty’s Day this year. I couldn’t decide between a clip or a necklace, so I made it both. I added a clip on the back so we can attach it to a head band or simply just clip it in Miss B’s hair. However, I like it strung on lace the best. I’ve been making little fabric flowers like crazy around here since it’s super easy to do in bed. My husband loves finding fabric scraps wrapped up in our blanket ;) Hope everyone has a fun St. Patricks Day this year! Maybe you can make your own little necklace so you don’t get pinched!

Quiet Book Pages

So while I’ve been down I’ve taken up hand stitching. It’s actually quite relaxing and I love doing it while catching up on my favorite shows. Although, it’s not as relaxing if my kids are in the mood to climb all over me. Needles and children stress me out. Wonder why? Anyhow, once the kids go to bed or if the husband is out with them at the park I bust out my needle and thread and turn on Downtown Abbey and go to town. {so sad that I finished season 2, when is season 3 coming on??} I decided I’d finally start on the quiet book I’ve been saying I’d make the girls for the last 3 years. I’ve finished 4 pages and they were quite the process! But. My girls LOVE them. So, I guess that means I will have to finish the book after all ;) I got the cute barn & mailbox templates HERE. The only thing I add was the crayon pocket, so the girls can write little love notes during church. I drew the dresser on a piece of paper and used that as my pattern but if you would like I can put one up here…My girls have been so excited to play with it. I told them it was only for church days and so every morning they ask if they can go to church. HA wonder how long it will be until the novelty wears off. I hope not too soon..Don’t judge my girls hair, I do comb it..sometimes.