96th Fashionable Fridays

Here's an outfit I wore to a girls' night last month.

Beaded Top/Shirt Dress (Clothing Swap)
Red Belt (from some capris I had)
Skinny Jeans (Old Navy)

Giveaway Winners in July

Winner of the Chicken Soup Gift Set - Teresa a Rafflecopter giveaway


Winner of Preemie Book - Kristina! Stay tuned for a review from me on this book. =)

95th Fashionable Fridays

Sorry I've been MIA this week, my eyes have been really bothering me lately so I've been trying to use the computer less this week until it feels better.

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Here's just a simple Mommy look for everyday... this was on a cool/overcast day =)

Striped shirt (Women's Clothing Swap)
White tank (Downeast)
Skinny Jeans (Kohls - Gloria Vanderbilt brand)

94th Fashionable Fridays

For the 4th of July I attempted color blocking with my new colored jeans from The Jean Girl. She had an awesome Red, White and Blue Sale so I snagged these jeans along with some blue ones.

I paired my red jeans with a red tank and navy shirt. Then I added this blue yo yo necklace I refashioned and a white hair clip.

We had a great fourth, and it was so fun to wear these jeans. Check out The Jean Girl on Facebook too.

Wellness Wednesdays #8 - Homemade Granola Bars

A while ago I made some homemade granola bars and I've been wanting them again, but couldn't find the recipe until just recently! It was in my Breakfast in a Cookie Jar book! - the Almond Cranberry Granola Bars recipe. Awesome recipe book with lots of healthier cookies and bars recipes - great for snacks or breakfast.

 I had my awesome helper mix in everything.

• 3 Cups Oats
• 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 TBSP Butter
• 1/2 Cup dried cranberries
• 1 Cup Chocolate chips
• 1 Cup flaked coconut (I probably used half that)

and half the recipe I mixed with about a cup of Peanut Butter for more protein. =) The recipe called for almonds, but I didn't have any thus why I decided to try peanut butter.

To make it healthier, instead of sweetened condensed milk, another blogger, Lauren's Latest, used butter, honey and brown sugar in her granola bars recipe (different kind) so I think that would work too. She also used Rice Krispies in hers along with her oats - I meant to do that as well, but forgot. Her recipe is also a no bake recipe.
Other ideas would be to add any other small pieces of dried fruit or raisins or try a different baking morsel like white chocolate chips or butterscotch... I think this is a easy recipe to experiment with.


Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes and then let cool.

without Peanut Butter

with Peanut Butter

 

 I ate my granola bars for breakfasts and snacks usually paired with fruit I had on hand like strawberries or apples. Perfect!


 Here's what my granola bars looked liked last year. I know I made them different, but can't remember what I did =)

70th Mommy Mondays - March of Dimes and GIVEAWAY

Last month, I participated in the March of Dimes walk in my area in Idaho Falls. It was a wonderful event, and I was glad I could support my friends and walk for those other babies I know that were born premature. It was also amazing to hear other stories from other families who faced trials with having premature babies.
For more pictures of the event, you can check out Aly Willis Photography.

My kids were able to meet Darth Vader.

On our walk (around 3 miles) we passed by beautiful scenery...

...and met some new animal friends.

 I made the shirts for the team I walked with.

Afterwards we enjoyed a picnic lunch and some activities for the kids. It was the first time either of my kids had their face painted! My son got a tractor and my daughter a butterfly.

While my daughter had her face painted, my son checked out he play doh station.

Here are close-ups of some of the shirts I made for the team. Interested in team shirts for an event or family reunion, check out my Scrappy Gifts FB page for more ideas.

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Today I'm also giving away this book: Preemie: Lessons in Love, Life and Motherhood by Kasey Mathews

TO ENTER: Just comment with who this book would be for whether for yourself or a friend. Leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries - Leave a separate comment for each.
* Be a public follower of Crafty Mommy Diva
*Comment on a Mommy Mondays post and come back here saying you did.

GIVEAWAY ENDS Sunday, July 29th at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN TO ALL U.S. and International

S'mores for Saturday!

Now I usually don't post on Saturdays, but I had to wake up early today, plus this post doesn't really fit on my normal posts so I thought I'd share today =)

Since my Pampered Chef party a couple weeks ago, I've been loving making S'mores! At my party we made S'more Cups (basically a graham cracker crust in mini cupcake pan with marshmallows and chocolate baked on top) and I had lots of leftover S'more stuff so I started cooking them on my stove. Then I saw this idea on Pinterest to add chocolate inside the marshmallow with Rolos. Here's the original blog post: Rolo Marshmallows too.
I found me some mini Rolos and then I saw the mini Reeses so I grabbed those too to try!

It was harder to roast the marshmallows with the chocolate inside - it didn't want to roast as evenly probably because I didn't get the chocolate inside very nicely.

 Why stop with Rolo/Reeses Marshmallows, turn it into a whole S'more!
I tried both kinds and the winner was...

 the Rolos - hands down!!! Love the caramel!!
If you like a peanut butter taste more, then I'd try doing a grilled peanut butter chocolate (Reeses) marshmallow sandwich (like grilled cheese). I did this when I was pregnant and it was so good!!! There just wasn't enough peanut butter flavor with the mini Reese so maybe do a regular S'more with a Reeses cup instead. So many ideas! Let me know if you try one!



 

93rd Fashionable Fridays - Paint that Nail

It's Fashionable Friday! Happy Friday everyone!! Since its been so hot outside with the sun shining bright I wanted to do something summery so I decided on bumble bees! Remember to just have fun with doing your nails, it takes patience!

First paint your nails a base color I chose Rimmel London Lasting Finish PRO- Posh Pink which took two coats. Over that I put one coat of glitter which was SinfulColors- Pinky Glitter. Then you want to make the bees' bodies with a yellow nail polish. I used China Glaze- Lemon Fizz with a dotting tool.

Next you want to make the wings which are like ovals but flat on one end. I used a white Stripe Rite.

Make two wings next to each other and do that to every body.

Then make the antennas which are just two lines coming out of the same spot/area. I used a black Stripe Rite.

Next put a black dot for the eye and then put the stripes on the body.

You can either stop there which would be cute or continue and put some flowers! First put two dots next to each other. I mixed Essie- Haute As Hello and SinfulColors- Snow Me White for the color.

Then put three more dots to complete the outside of the flower which are like the petals.

Fill in the flower if needed.

Continue that on all your nails in random spots. The size and shape of the flower will vary on how much space you have.

Then put a dot in the middle of your flower to finish it off and make it actually look like a flower. I used Sally Hansen Xtream Wear- Caribbean Coral.

Finish everything off with a top coat, and you're done!!

I hope you like these and give them a try! (:

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Cute bees and flowers! So fun! Thanks Kristyn. Be sure to check more of her nail creations at Paint that Nail!

Wellness Wednesday #7 - 4th of July recipe

Here's another recipe for you to help celebrate the 4th of July!

Fruit Pizza!! One of my faves and super simple! Again probably not super healthy, but lots of fruit!

Roll out your sugar cookie dough (onto stoneware or parchment paper for more even cooking). Bake 10 minutes. Let cool.

Spread cool whip or cream cheese and add your toppings in red, white and blue!
Red - strawberries, raspberries
White - Bananas
Blue - blueberries

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July! I am grateful for the freedoms of living in this country.

Chicken Soup for the Soul BIG Giveaway!

We have a lovely set of goodies to give away today, a perfect gift set for you or someone special in your life!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers book from Chicken Soup
Read some past reviews on different Chicken Soup books.

 A Chicken Soup Card made by AJ Scrapbooking and Cards

 A Small Orange Gift Bag made by Crafty Mommy Diva - This would be great to put some goodies in.

This would be a perfect get well soon gift too!
This giveaway ends, Monday July 23rd at 10PM MST
OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADA =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

69th Mommy Mondays - Say Goodbye to Stress

As a mom, we all have lots of stress everyday, at least I do.

 "We all have stress in our lives. What differentiates us is how we handle it."

In my health class in high school, I remember learning that we all had to have stress in our lives to live which was an interesting concept, but I think it's true. It would be pretty boring and mundane without stress. Stress can give us excitement, adrenaline, learning opportunities and more. The above quote on how we handle stress is what is important and what we need to focus on.

My friend has been having a lot of stress in her life so I had her review the book for me. Here are her thoughts on the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul; Say Goodbye to Stress is a great book for those who THINK they have stress in their life.  This book not only shows what goes on in people's lives, but how to actually fix your everyday thinking.  It also teaches people who have stress or make stress for their lives, how life isn't always going to go their way but there are ways that still work out in the end.  This book does a great job of pointing out that we need to change our lifestyle if we continue having stress in our lives day in and day out or otherwise we aren't going to lower our level of stress.  This book helped me a lot by demonstrating real life scenarios in people's lives and how I can relate to them but then look back and see how I've dealt with some of the same issues and the outcome was not a good outcome.  By reading this book, I feel that in my life; when stress arises, that I can tackle it in a different way than I have been living my life.  If that way doesn't work out then when I do have another situation (because no one's life is stress-free) then I will be able to think back on "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress" and think of the different ways each individual overcame their difficult time in life. DEFINITELY would recommend this book"

I know for me as a mom, I need to think of different ways to manage my stress so I can be the best mom that I can be for my children as well as the best wife to my husband. Most of the time it's taking time for myself or just telling myself to keep going along with not worrying about the future and just living day by day.
If you are having a lot of stress in your life and not sure how to manage it, we recommend this book.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a Giveaway from Chicken Soup and another great sponsor!!