Favorite Stain Removers for Babies, Toddlers and Husbands

When I had my son I was introduced to stains I had never imagined possible. The standard stain removers of my past no longer fit the bill. Here are some of my new favorite finds for treating stains.

Home Inspiration: Deck Makeover

When we purchased our house it had been empty for around two years. The house was only four years old but the poor deck had been neglected. I didn't want the wood to begin rotting so I decided it was time for a makeover. 

After

Awesome Easter Ideas

Easter is just days away!  So here are some last minute easter ideas's and recipes for you!

Angie from Big Bears Wife made these delicious looking peanut butter eggs!  Click HERE for the recipe.

Linda, from Craftaholics Anonymous made this cute bunny butt card!  Go HERE to read all about it!

 Melissa, from ADOR made this totally cute egg wall hanging.

Go HERE for her tutorial.

Don't forget about Kelsey's awesome Carrot Cake recipe she posted last week.

Also, don't forget my totally awesome dollar store egg wreath, HERE.

Home Inspiration: Book Sling tutorial

I am So excited to be heading over to Just Sew Sassy to do this tutorial!  Thanks for having my Just Sew Sassy!


  My sister and I have been looking for ways to make our toddler's rooms for functional.  We especially have been looking for fun and practical ways to store books!  My sister used spiced racks HERE for her toddler's books.  I decided to try book slings.  I got my inspiration for the book slings from Oh Dee Doh.

  You can find the supplies pretty cheap, and most everything is at the hardware store.  

Supplies:  

-Two double curtain rod brackets. (about 5 bucks each at any hardware store)

-Two, 4-foot long wooden dowels or curtain rods that fit into the brackets. Shouldn't cost more than $3 each.

-If buying new fabric, make sure you get 1 1/3 yard and wash it.  

First, make sure you measure your fabric, your wall space, and make sure your rods will fit in the wall space. That way you can cut them to size before you get started.

After I had the fabric cut down to the size I wanted, I folded up the edges and sewed them.

After I had each side sewed, I folded the fabric over the rods to make sure they would fit.  I marked the fabric so I would know where to sew, and how much room to leave for the rods.

There you have it, my very simple way of doing it.  I think I will make one more to go underneath the first one.   It looks kind of lonely by itself!  

Try not to look to close, I am not a seamstress! I don't like long tutorials, so I hope this will help you! If you would like a more detailed tutorial, and more specific instructions try this one HERE.  I did not use her exact tutorial, but I used her for inspiration. 

Food Inspiration: Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

This is a recipe you must try even if you think you hate carrot cake. I had personally never been a fan until I tried this moist cake. I first tasted this recipe at a cooking class given by Marguerite Henderson. This cake would be the perfect dessert to serve on Easter. I promise it's heavenly if you will give it a try.

Reading Inspiration: Easter Books for Kids

Easter is coming and I have been searching for Easter and spring themed books to read to my son. Most of my finds were secular. You can feature books you already own about ducks, flowers, rabbits etc. The library is also a good resource.

Wall Bookshelves

Learning Inspiration: Monkey Color Flashcards

This is a fun rhyme and flashcard combo to help teach your children the basic colors. My graphic is from The Mailbox Magazine, but you could use any monkey picture you like. The rhyme is also adapted from an issue The Mailbox Magazine.

The Best Devilled Eggs Recipe!!

So Devilled Eggs were never really my thing.  Of course that is until I tried my mother in laws!  They are seriously awesome, and I can't wait to make them this year!

Ingredients:

12 eggs

1/2 cup of mayo

tsp dry parsley flakes

1/2 tsp minced chives

1/2 tsp ground mustard

1/2 tsp dill weed

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp garlic powder

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 tsp vinegar

Hard boil your eggs.  Wait for them to cool.  Take off the shell, cut eggs in half.  Scoop out the yolk into a bowl.  Mix all of the ingredients together except the dried parsley flakes.  After you have everything mixed, put the mixture back into the egg halves.  Sprinkle with your dry parsley. 

There you have it, the best devilled egg recipe EVER!

Hobby Lobby Inspiration: Easter wreath



I found this totally cute easter wreath at Hobby Lobby, but the price tag said $40!  For styrofoam, really?  Then I noticed a sale tag for $20 and I still thought it was way too much.

(The hobby lobby wreath)

So I set out for my local Dollar Tree.  They had everything I needed.  I grabbed some small sparkly eggs, a wreath, and I grabbed some larger eggs on sticks, but I didn't end up using them.

I spray painted the wreath white, although you cant see it anyway so you could probaly skip that step.

The eggs had little ribbon loops on them for hanging on a tree, so I just pulled them off and glued them on the wreath.  That's pretty much all I did.  I glued them all facing the same direction, and I only glued them in the front of the wreath. 

I need to make a better bow for it, but I need some practice on that!  I think it turned out pretty good in the end, especially because it only cost me about $9!  Way better than $40 if you ask me!

~Jessica

Home Inspiration: Fireplace Mini Makeover

When we purchased our home the fireplace needed a lift. The mantle was scratched and the finish was badly damaged. The fire box was backed with a tacky tan faux brick. I wanted to give the fireplace a small makeover that wouldn't break the bank.

Before