Wood & Wire Photo Boards

Hello everyone! Sorry I have been gone for so long. July has been a stressful month, but I have more free time now to focus on HWTH so be prepared. I hope yall are surviving the heat and staying cool. We have been stuck in the house getting stuff packed so thankfully we have avoided it some. I do have a fun new project for you to try to keep your mind off this sticky, hot summer.

One thing that I love and it's displaying pictures. I wanted to find a new creative way to display them on this nice blank wall in my kitchen without being overwhelming in such a small space. A little rustic wood feel was what I was going for, but did not want to make a lot of picture frames from scratch or buy $15 4x6 frames at the store. When I came across this post by Liz Marie, I fell in love. It's so different and eye catching.

Supplies
2x6x12
Stain
Foam Brush
Old sock or Rag
Eye Hooks
Picture Wire
Command Strips

I rummaged through the wood at Lowe's to find the best piece while the hubby was off entertaining Raleigh in the lighting aisle. Once I found the perfect piece, I had the guy at Lowe's cut it into (3) 4' sections since it was free. I got right to sanding each piece so there were no splinters trying to stab me. If you haven't stained anything before then I have a few steps here.

Measure and mark the exact center of the board on both ends so you know where to put the eyes. Take the eye hooks and screw them in where you marked. Next, twist the picture wire connecting both ends. Make sure it is as tight as it can get. 

Finally you can start clipping your cute pictures, sayings, or kids artwork up on the wall. Now I have to find a spot on my wall for it ;) It's a lot easier to change these pictures out rather than A regular collage frame.

 Please ignore the grainy pictures. A little girl I know stole my camera and hid it that day. Hope you like me little project. Until next time. 

Florida on My Mind

I love Florida. It's an escape from humid, stuffy, allergy filled Tennessee. I love Tennessee don't get me wrong, but sometimes a girl needs some sand and ocean. It was our first family vacation and I was thrilled that it turned out so well. Koby hasn't been out of middle Tennessee in 2 years so he was overjoyed to get time away. We went to Daytona Beach Shores and thanks to some family friends got to stay in a condo right on the beach. Koby's mom and granny also made the trip because they were in need of some good ole family vacation.

I was so safe not to get burn on vacation, but it never fails that I burn the last day and have to deal with a red scorching hot burn the whole way home.

This trip definitely seemed like a turning point for Raleigh. She has always been a good talker but in Florida she seemed to pick up every word. I mean what 21 month old knows the word chocolate or pelican. That by far was her favorite word while we were there. She would get excited seeing one go by and say "pelkin". However, she HATED the sand. I tried to set her down in it and her legs came up. Man that kid has some crazy strength in her legs to hold them up like she did…like a baby spiderman.

We soaked up the sun, ate lots of seafood, splashed in the water (while avoiding stingrays), and awed at the sunsets. It was a perfect vacation with some people that I love.

Of course she liked seafood too.

I love that her hair can go into a pony now. It's so cute. The wind had its fun with it though.

Playtime Pictures

This is gonna be just a fun picture post. I love taking pictures of Raleigh playing or making messes. She is all over the place and loves to run around outside. I know sometimes I just like to look at adorable pictures from the blogs I read so here are some cute ones of my little munchkin.

Raleigh is adventurous. She has always been very independent. Heck she has been able to hold up her own head since the day she was born…scared the crap out of me. She will go right for the big slide and not need your hand. I can't believe my little baby has gotten so big. It's bittersweet to see her learning words (she repeats everything we say…and it's difficult to watch what we say). I am amazed at how she picks up stuff so fast. I know she gets that from me ;) ;) I wish I could slow down time and enjoy these moments more. I guess that's what pictures are for. Check them out. I hope they make you smile like they do me.

"MOM! Why isn't this thing moving?!"

 NO! NOT YET! Please it's too fast :(

Shaklee- A New Beginning

I bet a lot of people have heard about this company before but for those of you who haven't then here's the down low. I have just recently started selling a brand called Shaklee. They've been in business for over 50 years but I guess I wasn't in the loop before now. They've been featured on Rachel Ray, Oprah, used by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gwyneth Paltrow, over 150 Olympic medalists, and is the only cleaning product used in The White House. Heck it's even gone to space. Awesome right?

I was skeptical of it at first because it's all natural and I've tried some cleaners in the past that were all natural but didn't clean very good. I had my doubts about Shaklee too, but man was I wrong. I had a spot on my counter that refused to come off (heck it was more stubborn than my husband). I sprayed the all purpose Basic H on there and POW! It was gone. After trying half dozen other products on there and finally this did it. I was amazed. I of course then went through my house trying to find anything and everything to clean with this magic cleaner. It's also great because it's a concentrate, so that 16 oz bottle you get of basic H is equivalent to 5,824 bottles of Windex (26oz). Oh by the way did I mention it's great for windows too. ;)

(that middle picture. That's Coke that got spilt down the wall awhile back…no judgement…it was 

hidden behind my desk)

Then there's laundry detergent (also has fragrance free) that is great for people who have allergies to detergent. I am pretty sure Raleigh has an allergy to ours because she gets little bumps. I just ordered some dish washer detergent too. I think I might become a little OCD on cleaning. UH OH ;)

Cleaning products aren't the only thing that we sell at Shaklee. We have a lot of vitamins! Pretty much any vitamin you can think of. I started on the Vitalizer which is a daily vitamin pack that has everything you need in it (omega 3, vitamins ABCD, probiotics, antioxidants, minerals, and anti-aging nutrients). I know I wasn't getting everything I needed in my daily diet so I was thrilled to be able to get the Vitalizer. Plus I don't have to worry about having a dozen pill bottles laying around that I have to remember to take 2 of this and 3 of that to get a full daily dose. I couldn't tell a difference until I missed it for 2 days and I lost all my energy and felt like crap. Now I won't miss a day. I will definitely get the Stress Relief and Gentle Sleep next because honestly who doesn't want those too.

I haven't tried any beauty products yet but I am already making a list of what I am going to get. I also got some Shaklee 180 products in which are weight loss products. However, I am not the one who will be using them; Koby will be the one using them. The 180 products are high protein smoothie diet. It burns fat but not muscle so you can keep the good stuff. There are so many success stories here with before and after pictures. They are great for on the go if you forgot or want to skip a meal or snack (also have snack bars). We do the strawberry banana smoothie recipe that I found on Bonnie Donahue's blog here, but I've tried the Chocolate Banana and that's a good one too.

I will definitely get the baby products when they come back in stock. I know those are always popular because every mom wants their child to be safe. Raleigh loves to help me clean around the house and now I can let her because everything is okay. I don't have to worry about her breathing in harsh chemicals or touching the counter when its got clorox on it. It's nice not having to worry about that.

Shaklee does tests on all the ingredients coming into their site and test all the way through production to make sure it stays pure. All the products are all natural so the same Basic H you use on your counters, you can also use as a bubble bath or to clean your kids hands. There are so many great products that can make your daily life so much easier and healthier.

If you love the products and want to earn money by selling them to your friends and family then we can set you up easily. Head over to listen to a free webinar about some of our wonderful ladies and their stories and if you're still interested then let me know. Being part of Project Dream is going to change my life and I can't wait to experience all it has in store for me. Thank you Jaima for introducing me to this amazing company.

Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly

Hey everyone! I know I have been MIA recently. I did not get abducted by aliens or anything; we have just been crazy busy around here and I have barely had time to breathe. We just got back from vacation plus we have been getting our house ready to sell and that took a lot of work. Not saying my house was a wreck or anything but anyone who has a kid (especially a toddler) knows that cleaning sometimes is like brushing your teeth with oreos. Raleigh is a big help with dishes and laundry but the girl likes to pull out every book and says "read""pwease". Who can resist or be mad at that?

I had to get a lot done to get ready for the house to show so I made a list, of course. Best tips I have found for a good showing.

1. De-clutter!

This one definitely took the longest. I went through every room and took everything off the counters or shelves that I did not need for awhile. This ended up with several boxes of stuff going into our storage shed so it's still close by if I did need something. Toys can take over your home like the plaque so take some toys out of the mix and you can rotate them back in later. I also got out large furniture items that weren't necessary or getting a lot of use so it makes your rooms feel bigger.

2. Get rid of it!

As you are decluttering your home, make a pile specifically for items to give away/donate. This will help you later when you're moving so you wont take stuff to your new house that you know you'll never use. I liked this step a lot because the more I gave away the better I felt. I had less stuff to store and clean, and somebody else will probably get more use out of it than me.

3. Deep clean!

Mmmmm, the feel of clean. I am not a huge cleaning fan either…I see a trend here ;) but when I get in  cleaning mode then I get on a roll. I recommend a good deep cleaning on your whole house: base boards, ceiling fans, behind the toilet, wipe door frames, wash & vacuum carpets, pressure wash outside, etc. It makes not just your home look new but makes you feel good to have a clean home. I do recommend Shaklee. I just started using it around my house and LOVE it. Being an all natural product you think it can't clean but man…it definitely can. Bonus is that its all safe for kids and animals because it's plant based. Check it out here.

4. Smelling good!

On the day of a showing, light some candles or incense for awhile, or even have something baking. I know when I walk into a house for a tour and there is a smell of garbage or animal poop then I am immediately turned off. Have your home smelling great when someone comes in so they have a great feeling from the start.

5. Light! Light! Light!

Open those curtains and blinds. Natural light is good on so many levels. It shows the buyers the house in a totally different light…;) It also highlights all those good colors around your home. It'll make your home feel brighter without that yellowish tint of light bulbs, because we know that does not do any good for pictures so it won't be much help during a showing either…unless it's nighttime. :D

6. Pets!

Try to take all your cute little companions with you before the showing. I have personally been to a showing where their dog barked the whole time and it's very unpleasant. You can't focus on the house or imagine yourself living there if there is an animal barking at you.

7. Soothing music!

I know it's not one that is common to see, but I actually found it very nice. I put on these nice wind chimes and mixed with good smells walking in makes you just feel calmer. You can also use classical music or anything else you find calming.

8. Curb appeal!

My porches were a mess. I mean my husband had so many tools on the back porch it made me think it was a workshop. Clean it all off and make it as simple as possible. Get flowers and anything that is attractive to the eye. I put 2 pots by my door and 2 smaller ones on my back porch steps with 2 little lanterns. It's all about simplicity and colors that are appealing to the eye.


That's my list! I believe doing all of these steps will help get your home sold quickly. It will help the buyers see the potential in your home and help them to see how their home could or would look like. Praying ours sells quickly now and praying to also find a perfect new house to make our new home. Wish us luck.

Five Links Friday #3

Friday finally! This means I only have one more day of work this week and most of you are off. YAY! Hopefully it'll be a nice weekend with no rain *fingers crossed*. I won't get to go outside too much and enjoy it becuase that sickness I was feeling last week ended up being sinuses. Raleigh and I got attacked by the allergy monster this week and we definitely lost the fight. After almost a week of puffy eyes, pressure headaches, and stuffy/runny noses (it's ridiculous you can have both at the same time! WHY?!) we are finally finding a little relief thanks to medicine.

This week's list is crazy compilation.

1. Beachy Summer Mantel - Tatortots & Jello

I love this color scheme for summer. It's so bright and cheerful. I already started doing yellow and mint green in my living room, but this is pretty close. I like the door in such a bright color.

2. DIY Painted Dresser - Cape 27

The before and after on this dresser is AH-mazing. I wish I could do something like this. I have to get the guts to just do it one day. 

3. Faux Butcherblock Countertop - Breakfast 4 Dinner

This is the tutorial that I will be doing this weekend. My counter is that old white laminate…bleh. Well I was dealing with it, but after Easter a mysterious stain appeared on it and for the life of me I  can NOT get it out! So I am just going to get this done and over with. I won't do it this dark though. I'll probably go with the Special Walnut that I've been in love with recently. Wish me luck. 

4. Strawberry Kiwi Margaritas - Sally's Baking Addiction

Don't think I forgot about Cinco De Mayo! I am a strawberry kiwi lover so I had to throw this in here. I love using colorful straws too. Break out the tequila!

5. Seven Layer Dip - Real Mom Kitchen

I am a sucker for these! I love a good 7 layer dip. The only difference is this has some ranch in it which I have never tried. I also am a little stingy…I like to make my guacamole from scratch. ;)

Hope yal enjoy the weekend and Cinco De Mayo on Monday. 

Five Links Friday #2

Hey everyone! Hope you all had an awesome Easter last week. I am feeling a little under the weather today so I'll keep it short and sweet. Here's my list of blog posts I've been loving this week. They give me such inspiration to either update my home or something to make my belly grumble with need. I have actually tried both recipes this week, both are winners.

1. Outdoor Drop Cloth Curtains - Between Naps on the Porch

I have been racking my brain and scouring Pinterest for the best way to do outdoor curtains. This one was probably one of my favorites because it is so simple but looks so expensive at the same time.

2. Playroom Canvas Reading Tent - Sunday Baker

This is too cute. I love the lights on the inside. I just built Raleigh a teepee but now I am definitely thinking about making this instead or at least adding lights.

3. $1 Small Cedar Planter - Ana White

Making a cedar fence post into this beauty was pure genius, but that's how Ana White works. She is a miracle worker.

4. Jello Pretzel Salad - The Girl Who Ate Everything

I have tried this dessert a couple different ways, but I have to say that the pretzel crust is my favorite. It's got that salty sweet mixture on lock down. Plus who can turn down strawberries? Definitely not this girl.

5. Creamy Crockpot Chicken & Broccoli over Rice

This is one of the best dinner recipes I have ever made. I make it a lot. It was also one of the first Pinterest recipes I tried too. I usually eat with rice, but I ran out the last time and tried with pasta…delicious. Now I am going to have to debate over which way to go every time I make this now. Why so many choices?! AHHH ;)

That's it for this week's five. I love sharing all my finds of the week or ones I have been enjoying for years. Let me know what yal think about the links. Have a great weekend!