Friendly Friday: Blog Hop

Welcome to another edition of Friendly Friday Blog Hop!

I'm happy to be a part of this blog hop and look forward to meeting some new "Bloggy Friends"!

Please leave me a comment below if you join the hop and let me know one thing you'd like to see on my blog.

Onto the Friendly Friday!

Welcome to Friendly Friday!

Remember, YOU can host the link list on your blog, too! Just get the InLinkz code and copy it directly into your post. The code is different every week, so be sure to get the new code when hosting Friendly Friday on your blog. Hosting the list is a great way to get even more traffic to your blog and make Friendly Friday more beneficial for everyone.

Thanks for joining the Friendly Friday celebration hosted by Xenia at Thanks, Mail CarrierThanks Mail Carrier, Christi at Frugal Novice and Charla at Healthy Home Blog! We invite you to join us every Friday to make more friends in blogville, get more blog followers and follow other great blogs out there.

To join in the Friendly Friday celebration, include your family-friendly link in our list, follow the hostesses in the first 3 spots and then start blog hopping! Visit other blogs on the list and comment to give them some blog love. Then take a minute to follow them through Google Friend Connect - this is a good way to keep up with other blogs, but also lets us show support to each other! Please DO NOT list your giveaways here, links must be to either your homepage or your Friday posting with your blog title. All others will be deleted.

When people comment on your blog and let you know they're a part of Friendly Friday, return the favor and follow them back. This way everyone gets traffic and followers out of participating, and it's a win-win situation. We would love for you to also grab our Friendly Friday button and post it on your blog and/or in a post - the more bloggers that find out about Friendly Friday and participate, the better!
Spotlight on Friendly Friday Followers!

We love your participation and want to show it! In addition to gaining followers, each week we’ll select one blog at random and will feature links and a write-up for that blog in the content of next week’s Friendly Friday post. There are so many seriously wonderful blogs out there, and this will be a great way to highlight one of those each week. Say hello to the lucky chosen blog and blogger for this week (and feel free to stop by and give her a little extra love):

Ang, the blogger at Sparkles & Bugs, jumps out at you right away as an energetic and fun person. She is a wife and mom to four kiddos, and she likes to blog about a variety of things she loves, including:

• Exercise & Fitness
• Food
• Crafts, DIY & Cute Stuff
• Great Finds, Great Ideas & Great Deals
• Organization
• Homemaking
• Mommyhood

Every Friday she does an event called Fitness Friday, where readers can follow along with her fitness journey and get motivated to continue on theirs! And trust us, this mom of four does not look like a mom of four - she has been working diligently to get back to her pre-baby weight. On other days you'll find crafts that you can try yourself, like her friendship bracelets using - get this - girls' tights! What a great way to reuse something and turn it into something fun. She posts recipes as well, so her blog is really a mix of resources for readers!

Now that you know about this wonderful blog, it's time for you to join in! Add your family-friendly link below and we'll see you back here every Friday! And don't forget, you can get the InLinkz code to share the link list on your blog, too.

All three hostesses appreciate followers through Google Friend Connect AND Twitter and we'll follow you back - just be sure to leave a comment with your URL and/or Twitter username. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Welcome to Friendly Friday!

My Baby Nursery - Featured on Baby Lifestyles

Do you remember a few months back when I revealed my baby's new nursery?

Well, today I was featured on Baby Lifestyles!

 Baby Lifestyles is a fantastic site with an online magazine which features ideas for all of your baby's life events!

I'm just so excited to be featured on their site. I thought I'd give a quick shout out to all of the things you can find on their website.  Here is a sneak peak:

• Latest Celebrity News
• Baby Showers
• Real Nurseries
• Fun Tips, News, & More
• Nursery Decor
• Eco-chic Baby
• Hollywood Parents and Kids
• Great Gift Ideas
• Hot Product Reviews
• Birthday Parties
• Amazing Charities
• Adoption

 

 I was just over the moon excited when they contacted me about sharing my design for the baby nursery. 

I worked really hard on this room and I just love how it turned out.

(In fact, it is everyone's favorite room in the house!)

As a reminder, Here's a sneak peak of BabyMo's room that was featured online:

Click HERE to go to the posting on Baby Lifestyles

I hope you all enjoy the article on Baby Lifestyle.

Thank you for featuring my sweet son's story

( he can be seen in the crib above ) and his adorable room on 

Baby Lifestyles!

Truthful Tuesday, Hoo Are You?

Today I'm participating in...




As found on Night Owl Crafting!

Each week Leslie posts questions to help us bloggers get to know each other better!
Hop on over to her blog to see all of us who are participating.
Click HERE


Here are this week's questions!

1. Have you ever attended a professional sports game?

2. Have you ever been to a concert and if so which one was your 

ultimate favorite performance?

3. Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World?

4. What is your favorite theme park?

5. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

Here are my answers!

1. Have you ever attended a professional sports game?
Yes.  This family love sports! If you ask MoDaddy, he'll tell you he only supports the Utah Jazz!  However, the rest of us are Arizona Diamondbacks and (gasp) even Phoenix Suns fans also!

(KidMo at a recent Dbacks Game)

2. Have you ever been to a concert and if so which one was your 

ultimate favorite performance?

In my single days I went to quite a few concerts. As a married couple, $60+ feels like a crazy amount of money to spend on seeing someone perform live.  That being said - we will be attending Josh Groban this summer! I can't wait!

3. Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World?

Is this a rhetorical question?  Just kidding.

YES! We LOVE Disney! We had Disneyland Season Passes until recently.  It's one of our favorite places to spend time as a family. We've been to Disney World once and are hoping to make it back soon.  BabyMo has never been to DisneyWorld! 

 (Here is a recent photo of me with BabyMo and KidMo at Disneyland!)

4. What is your favorite theme park?

I love Disneyland. Some say the rides aren't that exciting - and that is perfect for me. I'm super afraid of heights and anything that falls suddenly. Disneyland has a few of these rides, but I just avoid them.  I love rides that spin - the TeaCups are the best!

5. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

We have used most of our family vacation time to either visit family in other states or go to Disneyland. We are pretty predictable. We're trying to break the habit and could use some suggestions on where to go next.  Do you have any ideas?

Now it is your turn to play along!!!!

Come join in the fun!

Zenni Optical -Big Time Style, Small Price

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As you know, I had an adorable (preemie) baby about 8 months ago.

Aside from losing my hair and gaining weight, another "happy" side effect of having my lovely adorable sons is that my vision has really suffered.

And, I'd like to tell the world,

"Yes, I Wear Glasses."

About two years after "KidMo" was born I noticed that I was squinting and tilting my head to the side often.

TOO often.

Here are a few ways I knew I needed glasses:

1. Squinting

2. Headaches

3. Tired Eyes

4. Tilting my head to view things better

5. My SLR camera wasn't focusing right (it was.. my eyes were not)

 

It was time for a trip to the eye doctor.

 

The eye visit, exam and glasses ran me nearly $300.

I realized .... Being cute and wearing glasses was going to be expensive!

 

Then I discovered Zenni Optical.

They are an online optical store!  How cool is that?

I purchased my first pair of glasses from Zenni Optical  back in 2009 -they  set me back a whopping $8.  YUP! Just $8!  I was hooked purchasing glasses online. In fact I'm wearing a pair I ordered online right now!

 

All you need is a current prescription and you can order your glasses online. They ship them straight to your door.

If you haven't been to their site before, I promise you will love it.  You can thank me later. :)

They were even recently in Time magazine.  (That's the BIG time folks!)

 

So, here are my top 5 reasons for purchasing glasses from Zenni Optical.

1. Fantastic Selection

2. Easy ordering

3. Option to "try on" glasses with a photo you upload

4. Free protective coating options on all glasses!

5. Prices starting at $6.95

 

If you are a fellow Glasses Momma like me, check em out sometime!

Amy-

Sewing: DIY Car Seat Cover Canopy Tutorial

Today's Sewing Tutorial is for this adorable

DIY Car Seat Canopy Cover

You may have noticed I am the ONLY girl in this household.

When a close friend of mine found out she was expecting a girl I jumped at the chance to make this adorable PINK Car Seat Cover for her!  :)

I found inspiration by these blogs:

Oopsie Daisy Carseat Cover Tutorial

Saw Dust & Paper Scraps- Gift for New Baby

Make it Do - Baby Car Seat Cover

Please visit these blogs as they have amazing tutorials also!

 First: Start with some adorable fabric.

I scored this fabric below from one of my favorite places:

Hobby Lobby!

Click HERE for this week's Hobby Lobby sales.

Step 2: Cut to Size: 35 x 42

I followed THREE main Car Seat Tutorials and took the best from all of them. 

The final size I ended up with was 35 wide by 42 inches long.

Step 3: Round Corners

I loved the car seat covers with rounded corners. The process for each was a little different. I decided to go with a wide sweeping corner.  I marked in 10 inches from the corner on the narrow side (front of the cover) and on the widest part of the cover 14 inches from the corner (the side of the cover).

Like this:

Then I drew a line between these marks (making a triangle) and free hand drew a curvy line within the triangle that looked nice.

If this step makes you uneasy you can just grab a bowl from the kitchen and use the rounded edge as your guide.

Step 4: Pin edges together and cut your First corner

Step 5: Trace & Cut all Corners

In this step I simply flipped over my fabric rectangle, matched up the edges and traced this corner curve onto the other corner.  I did this three times and got the same pretty curved edge in each corner. Easy!

*Tip:  Remember put your fabric right sides together at this phase prior to cutting so that your edges are all pinned and ready for sewing in the next phase :)

Step 6:  Sew 1/4 Around the edge

The important thing to remember for this step is that your fabrics must be facing wrong sides OUT.  We will be leaving a small 4 inch area not sewn closed so that we can turn the fabric right side out.

Step 7: Clip Corners

Clipping the corners will help make the fabric lay nicer once flipped the correct way.

Step 8: Time to FLIP!

Now it's time to flip inside out, or in this case, RIGHT side out.  

If you have trouble with the corners, grab a pencil or chopstick to really push the corners and edges out nicely.

* TIP: Remember to Press with an iron once you have your car seat cover right side out to get a nice crisp edge.

Step 9: Edging

Sew 1/4 inch around the entire length of the car seat cover.

This will make a super finished edge that looks very professional. It also seals up the small area that we left un-sewn.  I'm using white thread on top and brown in the bobbin below.

Here is a close up of the edge.... doesn't it look pretty?!

Step 10: Create Straps

There were so many different ways to make handles for the car seat cover that it was hard to choose. I didn't have enough fabric to get too creative so I sewed what I had leftover into small strips.  My plan was to create a brown contrasting stripe down the center.  

If you like my straps here is how to make them

I took 4 pieces of fabric that were 2 x 9.5 and sewed them together

Cut the edges with a rotary cutter to make sure they are all even.

Here is what they look like after sewing each strip together:

* Tip: Be sure to Iron before sewing together in step 11


Step 11: Make a tube!

Now you will need to sew the edges of your 4 strips together to make a tube of fabric.

Below you can see on the left what the finished tube will look like once you have turned it right side out. 

The one on the right shows what it looks like after sewing.

Step 12: Iron & Close Tube

The next step requires you to iron your tube flat.

Be sure to position your stripes of fabric just how you will want them in this phase.

I wanted a Brown stripe in the middle with Pink on each side. Before Ironing I made sure it looked good and ironed into place

Then, gently tuck under the top and bottom about 1/2 inch and sew closed.  

I sewed all along the edge of the entire strap to again make a finished edge.

Step 13: Get ready for Velcro

The step below shows my finished Velcro ready straps!

I put two rectangles of the soft "loop" side on the top of the strap and two rectangles of the "hook" on the bottom part of the strap.

*TIP- Be sure to position these correctly so that the strap will close. This means that your "hook" Velcro will actually be on the opposite side of the strap than the "loop".  

See below how it is turned to show both sides?

Step 14: Attach the Straps

This step had me totally nervous.

I'm not going to lie.

Here is a close up of the strap: 

It turned out Great!! 

First, I folded the fabric in half the wide way (or "Hamburger style" as Oopsie Daisy says in her tutorial)

I measured 9 1/2 inches from each side of the car seat cover.

Then, I sewed on each strap with a small rectangle.

I used a zig-zag stitch on mine.

Please leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!

And, if you like this tutorial, please follow my blog :)

Thank you

This project was featured on:

Linking up to these great sites: Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, While He Was Napping, Just a Girl, Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous, Home Sweet Farm, Tidy Mom, 504 Main, Truly Lovely, Paisley Passions, Making the World Cuter, Six Sisters Stuff, I Heart Naptime, Making The World Cuter, Craft O Maniac, Embelishing Life, Skip to My Lou, Sew Chatty, Keeping it Simple, Sew Can Do, Ninth Street Notions, C.R.A.F.T., Polish The STars, Chocolate Drool and Kisses, Canoe Ridge Creations, 11th Heaven's Homemaking, Ladybug Blessings, Sugar Bee Crafts,  Vintage Wanna Be,  Running with Glitter, Skip the Housework, Today's Creative Craft,Tootsie Wootsie, Sew Woodsy, Tip Junkie, Sew Much Ado, Six Sisters Stuff, Tip Junkie, Girl Creative, Not JUST a Housewife, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Fabric Bows and More,Good Bye City Hello Suburbs, Funky Junk, My Repurposed Life

Short Hair: Style Yourself Confident

I recently made a drastic change to my appearance...

What do you think?

Let's take a step back in time.

For the past 34 years I've had long hair.

(oops, did I just give away my age?)

I've had a few different styles, but overall long, straight, THIN hair was my thing.

After two babies and lots of Hair Loss (read HERE for that post) I decided it was try for something new.

And, I've got to say,

 "I love my short hair! Why didn't I do this sooner?"

So, here are the top 10 reasons that

Short Hair Rocks!

1. Drying time literally cut in half
2. Less Shampoo/Conditioner needed
3. Experimenting with "product" is fun!
4. No need for pony tails
5. It's sassy
6. Hubby's like short hair too (who knew?)
7. Easy to style
8. Coloring your hair is easier
9. Style your whole head with a flat iron
10. Shows you are confident

And now, the top 10 reasons I told myself that short hair would not work for me:

(Note to self and all reading, these are NOT true! 

Although I believed them to be true for a long time)

1. My face is round (read... too fat)
2. Only "old" people have short hair
3. My hair is too thin
4. My hair is limp
5. I don't know what to do with short hair
6. I tried it once and didn't like it
7. I'm afraid of change
8. My hubby won't like the new 'do'
9. It will look ugly
10. Cute hair cuts only look cute on cute girls

So, in reading the above totally FALSE assumptions I made about having short hair, I learned a lot about myself. 

Mostly, I learned that it was my own insecurities that kept me from trying something new.

I have a few good friends who have short hair. They look ADORABLE!!  

But, I figured that short hair was just for "THEM".

"THEY" are cute (Beautiful actually!)

"THEY" just have great hair.

"THEY" don't have trouble trying new things.

"THEY" are confident.

Has that ever happened to you?

Why do we hold ourselves back?

Why do we compare ourselves to others?

Why does something as simple as a haircut become such a self-defining moment?

I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do know it feels great to try something new.  

And it feels great to be happy with the change I've made.

So, don't be shy.

If you've been thinking about a change, any change, DO IT!

Do it NOW!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you're thinking about.

Here is what I'm thinking about: What can we do as "Women in Zion" to support each other and bring out the best in one another?

Oh- And let me know whatcha think of my new "do".  

I'm diggin' it!

(PS-Huge shout out to these adorable short haired MoMomma Friends who I adore and look up to... Heather, Jenna, Kristal, Julianna, Shelly, Destiny and MANY more!)

Linking up here: Serenity Now, 

Recipe: Waffle Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla

It seems last week's Waffle Pizza was a hit!

If you missed that post, please view it here: Waffle Pizza

I decided to experiment a little more with the ole' waffle maker.

Tonight we made.... 

...Waffle Quesadillas with Chicken and Cheese!

Super Yum!

First: Let's make Chicken!

I took two large chicken breasts and put them in the crockpot.  I used this recipe for the dry rub and added 1/2 cup of water.

Cook for 3 hours on high and then 5 hours on low.  

When done, it will shred like this:

Okay, now we're ready for the Quesadilla's. 

Heat up your waffle maker and let's get started.

Step 1: Spray with Pam cooking spray

Step 2.  Place one small tortilla on the bottom of the Waffle Maker and stack with your favorite toppings.
Below, Chicken and Mozzarella Cheese. Yum.

Step 3: Place a 2nd tortilla on top and close the waffle maker

Step 4: Cook for about 4 minutes until done

Sooo Yummy!

If you like this recipe, please leave a comment and be sure to follow this blog :)

What would you like to see next for the Waffle Maker recipe series?

Linking up here: This Chick Cooks,

Recipe: Waffle Pizza

Today I saw a great idea for dinner: Waffle Pizza

It's a pizza, made in your waffle maker!

How fantastic is that?

I'm always looking for different ways to use the tools and appliances that I already have on hand, so this was perfect.

Let me give you a sneak peak at what I'm talking about:

That's right Friends, that is a Pizza, not a waffle.

Pizza fillings inside of a double layer of pizza dough -super yum.

Let's get started.

First, I made some home made bread / pizza dough in my bread machine.

I found one recipe that works great in my bread machine posted on Frugal Upstate's blog. Click HERE for her recipe (Also posted below)

I put the ingredients in my machine in the order they are listed below (it correlates with my bread machine's instructions - be sure to check yours), set it to the dough setting and went back to playing with my kids.

Pizza Hut Style Pizza Dough - For Bread Machine

Pizza Hut Style Pizza Dough*

1 1/3 cups water
2 tsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp cornmeal
3 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine, according to manufacturer’s settings, and run dough setting. After the machine beeps, roll out the dough.

Now, lets make some WAFFLES.  

Errr... I mean Pizza. 

Okay, Waffle Pizza's!

My inpsiration for tonight's dinner can be found HERE.

Emily shared her fantastic idea for Waffle Pizza on the SITS website.

*Be sure to check out her blog post, she gives great ideas for variations on this recipe for other meals and desert combinations! *

1. While the dough is in the final stages, go ahead and heat up your Waffle Maker.

Here is my Dough, cut into 3 pieces for three "waffles"

2.  Roll out your dough as thin as possible.

3.  Get your toppings ready (Canadian bacon, turkey pepperoni, mushrooms and pineapple (not shown).

4. Spray the waffle maker with Pam.

5. Place the bottom layer of your "sandwich" on the waffle maker and stack with toppings.

6. Then fold over to make a sandwich and lock it down

7.  Trim around the edges with a knife while it's baking up.  I cooked ours for anywhere between 3-5 minutes depending on how many toppings we used.

The Feedback:  10 out of 10

A direct quote from KidMo, 

" The flavor and seasoning is better than I thought"

(WHO is this kid? He cracks me up)

Give Waffle Pizza a try at your house!  

I'd love to hear how your family likes this meal.

This recipe and blog post was featured on:

Linking up to these Great Sites:

Craft Junkie Too, Making The World Cuter, Craft O Maniac, Keeping it Simple, Polish the Stars, Paisley Passions,