~Maxx motherhood~

My life wouldn't be the same without these two.

I love these kiddos and how much they make me smile.

I love spending time with them and watching them grow and learn.

One of my favorite things to do with them is to hang out in the kitchen and bake.

We all love cooking and creating meals for family and friends.

I was challenged by TJ Maxx to see how I "Maxx Motherhood"

Seeing as how we spend so much time in the kitchen, I headed down there to pick up a few new things for the kitchen.

TJ Maxx is the best place to pick up huge glass jars with lids.

They are by far the most inexpensive place to buy them.

I picked up a few really big ones to corral snacks on the counter, and of course, I needed a new candle to go there as well.

Keeping healthy snacks handy 

{don't look at the cookies above}

makes me feel good and the kids can just grab them as they pass through the kitchen.

I also picked up this tall glass jar with no lid and placed a battery operated candle in it.

It's on a timer and comes on when it gets dark for 4 hours.

TJ Maxx is also the cheapest place to get these candles.

If love picking up various white dishes there too.

I got this one and placed a faux orchid in it.

Then I just added spanish moss all around the top.

I also picked up this clock.

I don't think anything I have showed you so far was over $14.99.

 Oh Murchison Hume, how I love you.

Although I got all this online, if you are lucky you can sometimes find them at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

Scoop them up fast if you see them, they go fast! 

More white dishes from, you guessed it, TJ Maxx!

You seriously cannot beat their prices!

And because I am sharing my new kitchen goodies with you, I wanted to show you my "new" rug that I got for, wait for it, $1.00 at a church rummage sale!

Originally I was going to make pillows with it, but I think I love it here.

Well, now that the kitchen is clean and clutter free, I think I am off to enjoy some of those chocolate chip cookies sitting on the counter!

xoxo

~spring vignette & free printable~

I am teaming up with some other fabulously creative bloggers to bring you a ton of free printables for spring! Not only are you getting all the printables, but you get to see how each person used them in a creative vignette!

When I think of spring I think of fresh fruits and veggies, citrus trees,  and warmer weather for gardening.

So my printable has to do with one of my favorite things, food. :)

Growing up my mom would always make this delicious sugary drink, and now my kids are asking for it. So, I created the recipe for you all on a great vintage orange image.

I mounted mine to orange scrapbook paper and framed it in a white frame.

I really love the pop of orange from this piece.

If you would like to print this image for yourself, simply copy and paste the image below to a word document and print out whatever size you need!

Now, check out the rest of these fun and FREE spring printable images!

Bird Prints Vignette with Free Printable by Town and Country Living Dreamsicle Botanical Recipe Print by My Sweet Savannah I Love Paris in the Springtime by So Much Better with Age Spring Floral Watercolors by Migonis Home Let New Adventures Begin by City Farmhouse Hello Easter Greeting Card Printable by Sweet C's Designs Hippity Hoppity by Clean and Scentsible Spring Vignette and Free Printable by My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Botanical Prints for Spring by Shades of Blue Interiors Spring Easter Bunny Free Printable by Thoughts from Alice The Earth Laughs in Flowers by Ella Claire Well, Hello Spring by Nest of Posies Free Printable Welcome Spring by Dandelion Patina Aztec Easter Egg Print by My Someday in May Rain Boots Printable by Chronicles of Home Bunny Gift Tag by In My Own Style Easter Placemats by Finding Silver Pennies Our Nest Watercolor Printable by Craftberry Bush He Makes All Things Beautiful by AKA Design Gardening Printables by Lilypad Cottage Easter Garden Stake Printable by The Wicker House

Happy printing!

Thank you Kristin from Ella Claire for this great spring post!

xoxo

~free printable flashcard pantry labels~

I love organizing and I also love creating and thinking of new ideas.

I came up with this idea using sticker paper. I like this particular paper because it is easily removable. When it comes time to wash your containers, just peel them off and then put them back on when your containers are dry.

I used Ink Jet Sticker Project Paper.

I made mine approx. 1 1/2" x 3" and rounded the corners for a more realistic look.
A paper cutter makes the job go a thousand times faster too.

Peel off the backing and stick onto your container.
My containers are from here.

If you would like to print your own, just copy and paste these images onto a word doc. print and cut!
{you may need to adjust the size so that they fill up a whole 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper}

If you choose not to spend the money on the sticker paper, you can always print them on card stock and then attach them with fun printed washi tape!

~Have fun~

xoxo

~favorite green kitchens~{with paint colors}

Green is my favorite color. 

All shades of it, so it's no surprise I like green interiors, even green kitchens.

I have a huge kitchen section on Pinterest where you can find the sources for these gorgeous kitchens.

I have also included some color swatches that match pretty close, all by Sherwin Williams.

xoxo

~the painted fox challenge~

Have you heard of the Painted Fox?

It is a great place to shop for farmhouse swag.

And welcome, if you are following along on this tour and coming from my friend

 Laura's blog, Finding Home.

I was chosen along with 8 other bloggers to be sent a "mystery" product from their shop and then use it in a creative way in my own home.

I was thrilled when I opened up the box and saw this metal 3-tier tray!

Green is my favorite color, and it has these great 

chippy rusty looking spots that are just fabulous.

I wouldn't say this is the most creative idea I have ever come up with, but with the season and all, it was just screaming at me to fill with pumpkins and apples and pears off the trees.

I am even more excited to decorate this at Christmastime, 

but truly it could be used and left out year round.

To see what Kelly of Live Laugh Rowe has done with her mystery product,

 head on over here!

xoxo

~$15 DIY faux zebra rug~{thrifty thursday}

If you want a zebra hide rug but don't want to spend $2,000.00, read on.

This version will set you back about $15.00.

You will need:

1 drop cloth {you an make 2 out of this $30.00 one}

White paint and black paint

and

a pencil.

Let's start with an after picture:

Alright, get out that drop cloth and lay it {folded in 2} on a flat surface.

When you paint it, the paint will seep through so make sure you have a tarp down, or garbage bags taped together like I did.

To get the correct shape I traced my real zebra rug onto the fabric using a pencil.

This is something you could totally eyeball, or if you have a cowhide, that would work too.

Iron the whole thing.

Next,  using a roller, roll on a thick coat of white paint. 

Any white will do.

I had White Dove left over from my kitchen cabinets so I used that.

Wait for it to dry and paint one more coat.

Let dry overnight.

Painting on the stripes might seem intimidating, but it's really quite simple if you have something to reference too.

I would suggest printing out a picture off the Internet of a real zebra hide.

If you don't feel comfortable painting it on freehand, you can always pencil it in first.

I put the black paint on pretty thick as well.

After you are done, let dry for a few hours and then seal it with a polyurethane in a matte finish.

{unless you would like it to be shiny}

That's it!

 Stand back and admire your art and pat yourself on the back because you just saved a little under $2,000.00.

Now, I am off to paint the other one.

xoxo