Tickled Pink x2: No 7

Remember the other day...

I said I was taking some time off...

well...I still am...

I have not been spending as much time on the beach (like that photo up there) but I am getting stuff done...

AND I could not stay away from Tickled Pink

Don't forget...Meegan has great features 
Go check them out!

And go say Hi to Patti at Old Things New!
She stepped in to help co-hostess Tickled Pink this week!

Thanks Ladies!

My 10 Day "Cut Through the Chaos" Experiment

I needed to take a teeny-tiny break.

Over the last three years...

my family has been on a roller coaster...

living apart...

jobless...

employed....

living apart...again...

now moving (soon!) to another state.

Image credit: pixelsaway / 123RF Stock Photo

During this time, I have lost sight of a lot of things.

I have been happy and angry and just plain pissed off.

And had a lot of late night pity parties.

I have embraced some changes and hid from others.

I have had the support of some really amazing people in my life,

but I cannot rely on anyone to stop the ping pong balls of life

that are bouncing around in my head.

I need to do it without any unnecessary distractions.

During this time, everything in my life has suffered....

I have had health scares.

I am flat out exhausted...I think I run on coffee alone.

I "snap" at the kids.

I "snap" at my husband.

I just "snap."

And that is not working anymore.

I need to get my house in order.

I need to help my kids with some things.

I need to go back to appreciating what I have.

I need to take care of myself.

(I did a detox and felt amazing...

but my bad habits overtook the good ones...again)

BUT THE CHAOS MUST STOP.

I have decided to take 10 days off to Cut Through the Chaos in my life.

Why 10 days...I have no idea...it just sounded right.

 

I am really good at starting things.

I have developed a lot of good habits.

Then promptly developed a lot of bad habits to counteract the good ones.

In the next 10 days I will focus on some house issues,

some kid issues, prepare better meals, exercise more,

focus on why my mind is filled with chaos, and get back on track.

And hopefully emerge with a better attitude and a clear head.

I know we all have buys crazy lives.

I am no different than anyone else.

I used to be able to keep it all in check...

But after ignoring the signs for too long,

I know I need the time.

I have not been able to pull it all together.

I want to be a good mother.

I want to be a good wife.

I want to accomplish my dreams.

I need to clear my head.

Fresh air, family, and friends will help.

I want to draw with my girlie.

Watch my boy play baseball.

Take walks on the beach...

collect some sea glass to take to Texas.

Listen to the ocean from my deck

(a sound I will soon not hear anymore on a daily basis).

So, thank you for listening, for reading, and being supportive!

You are awesome!

See ya next week! 

(I can't stay away!)

 

If anyone has any tips and tricks to share on getting your act together

go ahead and share them hear...PLEASE!

Be sure to visit Meegan this week as she will be hosting Tickled Pink on her blog!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Tickled Pink Times Two: No. 6

Hey All!
Hope you had a great week!
I cannot wait to see what you are linking up.

 Here is what I accomplished this week
We had a Little Mermaid viewing party
Oatmeal Cookie Apple Pie Bake
and made a Barbie apron out of duct tape
 

(click on READ MORE to linkup and for the features!)

How to Make a (Duct Tape) Barbie Apron

I recently had the opportunity to work with Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape.

 I jumped right on it because I love working with unusual materials to create fun products and to stretch my creativity, and duct tape is one of those materials that challenges my imagination.

 

  Of course duct tape is great for jazzing up notebooks, accenting vase, frames, and making wearable accessories....and so much more!     Using the Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape in Glamtastic and Doll-lightful - oh how I love Barbie! - I created  a very simple apron that can be used for cooking or crafting.   

Disney Princess Celebration: The Little Mermaid Viewing Party

The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney Princess and I was thrilled to throw a party and write this sponsored post for Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community to celebrate The Little Mermaid.

I was a teenager when The Little Mermaid was released.

But I went and saw it in the theaters. I loved it!

Then I purchased the VHS tape...

then I purchased the cassette soundtrack...

and then my friend gave me a Sebastian watch for Christmas.

Yes, The Little Mermaid - Ariel - is my favorite Disney Princess EVER!

My daughter loves Ariel too!

Fall Dessert: Oatmeal Cookie Apple Pie Bake

This Apple and Oatmeal Cookie Fall dessert is brought to you by Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community and Smart and Final.

Fall is coming!

Fall is coming!

To me that means crisp sunny days...

pumpkins...warm sweaters...colorful leaves...

apples...and baking!

Yes, Fall makes me want to bake...and bake...and bake.

Sometimes there is too much happening in my life to bake a treat completely from scratch, but yet I still want to make something with that special homemade feel. For that reason, I challenged myself to create a go-to Fall dessert that was totally yummy, but also super easy to make. I purchased First Street Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, one of Smart and Final's pre-made bakery items!

I have made dessert with cookie crusts before...but man oh man it takes time.

By using the First Street Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, I was able to skip quite a few steps, and save on time and ingredients!

Perfecto!

Tickled Pink Times Two: No. 5

Welcome to the NEW Tickled Pink x2!
Meegan has great features - go check them out!
(I know this because I would have selected so many of the same ones!) 


Besides the usual craziness, this week... I made a Painted Burlap Banner for Fall

Played with a Barbie Dreamhouse

And shopped for a wedding at Target

 

(click on READ MORE to linkup and for the features!)

Be Yourself, Together: Unique Gift Giving for Weddings

disclosure: Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.
 
My husband and I are getting ready to celebrate a wedding anniversary. I brought up the subject of our wedding gifts and we started talking about the truly unique gifts we received. Of course we were, and are thankful to have received beautiful china and linens and crystal...but there were a few friends who really hit the mark with amazing, unique and unforgettable gifts. Don't you want to be that wedding guest too?

Barbie's Back at the Malibu Dreamhouse (sponsored review)

I finally got a Barbie Dreamhouse thanks to One2One Network and this sponsored review!

I love Barbie.

(My dream job would be a Barbie Designer!)

 My daughter loves Barbie.

As a young girl I wished and wished for the Barbie Dreamhouse.

I never got that Dreamhouse, but I never gave up hope...

and recently my dreams came true.

(OK...it is really for my daughter...but maybe she will share)

The newly renovated Dreamhouse is three-stories, has 6 rooms, two elevators, and unmatched “ocean views” of the Malibu coastline, and while it is actually for my daughter..that does not mean I cannot enjoy it too!

Painted Fall Burlap Banner

This Painted Fall Burlap banner was created as a sponsored post for DecoArt

I was holding out to post anything Fall or pumpkin-y until September...I made it!

I do not do a whole lot of seasonal decorating...

but banners, those are easy to swap out and store!

I decided to start off Fall with my latest banner.

Seriously I am turning into the banner lady -

but people keep asking for them and I keep making them..so there ya have it.

Now on to the banner! This banner begins like my "We Love School" Banner but has so much more to it. To me Fall is about texture, rich colors and a feeling or warmth. I think through the use of layers of paint and pattern and the texture of the burlap I have accomplished this feeling in this banner.

Tickled Pink Time Two: No. 4

Welcome to the NEW Tickled Pink x2!
Meegan has great features - go check them out!
(I know this because I would have selected so many of the same ones!) 

What have you been up to this week
Um, yeah, my garage is still a mess!
But I made a really sweet ruffled wreath 

  
and tested out some Fruttare Fruit Bars
Head on over and enter to win a couple of coupons to try them for yourself! 

 

(click on READ MORE to linkup and for the features!)

Waverize It!: Slipcovered Ruffle Wreath

A little bit ago, a lovely little package with a couple yards

of Waverly Fabric from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store  arrived on my doorstep.

This fabric sent me over the moon - gorgeous and fun and fabulous!

I had one million and one ideas for it...

and was only given one rule...Waverize It!  

Fruttare in My Freezer! (Review and Giveaway)

In this house we take our treats seriously!

We happen to really love frozen treats and are always game to try something new. 

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to try Fruttare 

Fruttare bars come in yummy fruit varieties and creamy milk and fruit options as well.
As soon as I signed on to review Fruttare I ran to the grocery store to pick up a box of Mango bars - we are crazy for mango in this house!
We had to try these bars NOW!!
We loved every single bite.

In fact my daughter eats frozen mango all the time,
but now she is asking for Fruttare Mango Bars.
During the next shopping trip I picked up the Strawberry and Milk Bars...
and now she has a hard time deciding which Fruttare bar to ask for! 
 (Today, it was the Strawberry and Milk)

Fruttare comes in these amazing flavors!

Why did we like Fruttare so much?

Well, flavor...it is there and it is refreshing and delightful.

When my kids keep asking for more,

I know we have a winner in our freezer!

We were able to test the Mango, which has a fruity fresh flavor,

and we tried Strawberry and Milk which was creamy and loaded with strawberries.

The two varieties offered a different taste experience
and both were delicious in their own way.

The bars are a perfect size for a treat too!

Not to small, not too big...just right!

The bars pack an amazing punch of sweet flavor.

If you like frozen treats and fruit...

you gotta give Fruttare a try!

Oh, wait, here's a chance to win some!

The giveaway is for 2 coupons good for 2 boxes of Fruttare Fruit Bars

(one coupon was for me, but I already am hooked, so I am giving away both!)

It's simple to enter

Giveaway open from 9/3/13 through  9/19/13 at midnight PST

Winners receives 2 coupons for Fruttare Bars (one coupon = one product)

Head over to Fruttare and tell me which flavor you want to try!

Leave a comment below!

Keep in touch with Fruttare on Facebook and Twitter

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Content provided in partnership with Fruttare.