Creative Coat Rack

Love this fun take on a coat rack! I would love to do this in my mud room! Mr. D grab the nail gun and saw!

G-Baby Update

How cute is this bib? It is such a great bib and my sister-in-law, Brooke, made it! Thanks Brooke! I love homemade gifts. I wish that I were more crafty and a better seamstress, but at least I can benefit from the talents of others!
So, G-baby is now 6 months and although he is not completely stable sitting on his own, he is really trying to crawl. He still wakes up about 3 times during the night.....he has never been the best sleeper and I'm really trying to change that! Sleep is too important! G-baby has the best smile that could brighten any day! He loves to cuddle and loves to get a lot of attention! He is so adorable and I'm so glad he has blessed our family.

More Favorite Toys

Sophie the Giraffe is G-Baby's favorite toy. I think it is the best teether that any of my children have had. It is so darling because it looks the same as it did when it was first "born" in France in 1961. Sophie is 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree and is still "traditionally" produced to this day. It is Phthalates and BPA free and facilitates a babies development.



J-Boy has many favorite toys. He basically likes to haul ALL his cars, trucks, airplanes and trains around to whatever room we are in. He loves to "pack-up" anything that can carry his toys and he is very talented at making messes. Besides the obvious transportation toys, he also loves his Busy Zoo Activity Center that Santa brought him for Christmas. Santa said he got it from Target.

Pillow Talk: One

Tip: mix and match different colors, patterns, sizes and textures.

WARNING!!! This is decorative pillow overload! I've been looking for some new and fun pillows and thought I'd share my favorites. Problem: there are just too many great and interesting choices out there! I love mixing it up and love different colors and textures together. Let me know if you have other ideas.....I just might need to do part II.

All Modern has to be the best sight for unique and fun pillows! This is a must!
Right now West Elm is having a great sale on pillows! I just got the Taksim pillow for my basement family room.
Pottery Barn always has a good selection. I especially like these graphic pillows.
Love, love, love these pillows from Tonic!
I have the rectangular green/bird pillow in my master bedroom and I absolutely love it! I'm thinking that I need some more pillows from this place! They have so many different colors and designs and they are all great!
Color and Scheme has such a great selection of pillows! I think I need some of these!
These fun pillows are from this Etsy store.
Love these pillows from this Etsy store.





















These two unique pillows are from an Etsy store Kainkain



Carmen Pillow from Crate & Barrel
Remy Pillow from Crate & Barrel

Cherry-Vanilla Buttercream Frosting: The Best Frosting!

Unlike my husband, I love frosting. He eats the cake and I eat the frosting. That makes a good match in my book! :) If you are on my team, then you'll love this AMAZINGLY YUMMY buttercream frosting recipe, because not all frosting's are created equal. No. No. There is decent frosting, and there is AMAZING frosting. This happens to be AMAZING! If you happen to make it, let me know what you think. I use this on cupcakes, particularly chocolate. I have also used this as the frosting for homemade Oreo's, and my kids like it on grahm crackers. Basically wherever you feel a need to frost something. Sometime I'd like to mix it up and try a raspberry preserve, or strawberry, or apricot.....


Cherry-Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
11/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2/3 cup tart cherry preserves ( I used the Bonne Maman Preserves)

Beat confectioners' sugar and butter on medium-low speed until well-blended. Add vanilla and heavy cream; beat for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Beat in cherry preserves until well-incorporated.

Lemons

I love citrus fruits! I love lemons!
Lemons remind me of being surrounded by lemon trees in the Algarve (southern area) when I lived in Portugal. It brings back a lot of memories. I have been on such a lemon kick lately! I always have a lemon in my drink, but I've also been making a healthy-fresh lemonade. To sweeten it I've been using Xylitol or the new sweetener Truvia, and a couple of drops of orange flavored Stevia. It has been a refreshing treat!

Summer Lovin'

Part of my Summer Lovin' is hanging out in our hammock with my kiddos. They love to play and tackle each other on it. I, however, love to cuddle, relax and read on it.

I do enjoy my hammock, however, I would not mind hanging out in this particular one.
Doesn't that look so inviting? I'll have some lemonade to go with that please.

Or this hammock! How dreamy! I'd like an entire day in this one with an entertaining book.
I'll have a pina colada please!

Hoot Baby Clothing

This is such a darling site for girl dresses and skirts! I swear girls are too fun to shop for!

Strawberry Jam

One of my favorite things about summertime are the berries! Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries.....all the berries. Yum-O! We have a strawberry patch in the backyard that usually produces a ton of fruit, but this year, due to the cold, we didn't get very much. I still made strawberry-blueberry jam. Ahhhh! Nothing like fresh jam on a yummy slice of sourdough bread. THE BEST! The kids love to go pick the strawberries and eat them silly. Next year, I need to plant more!

Bonne Maman Preserves

So, if you don't like to make jam at home, one of my favorite Preserves are the Bonne Maman that are from France. They are ohhhh so yummy! I can purchase these at my local Wal-mart, but if you can't find them, they are also on Amazon.

• Bonne Maman is the number one selling line of specialty preserves providing the "Gold Standard" against which all other premium preserves are measured.
• Bonne Maman products are exported to over 100 countries and are top rated in taste tests.
• Bonne Maman preserves and jellies are made with no colorings, artificial preservatives, pulps, purees, juices or concentrates.

I wish that I could just go to France, but since that is not on the agenda anytime soon, I guess I'll just have to enjoy little "gifts" from France. Some Apricot Bonne Maman would go great with that baguette sitting on that cute little cafe table. I'll just keep dreaming.

LOVE LIST

How cute are these bottles! Look close, the soap bar matches the design of the bottles! Not only do I love Method, but their packaging is so fun and I love that there are no labels. It will look stylish sitting on your sleek counter. Love it!

Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies

I love Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products. Right now everything is 20% off until July 26th.

I have been trying to use chemical-free products for cleaning lately. GO GREEN! Especially since I have been trying to have my kids help clean the house. I just feel a little better if they are using and inhaling a safer product. I love the way they smell! I have found their products at certain Target stores and Harmon's Grocery.

All of their cleaning products are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free. Their claim: "our cleaning products are good for your house, your nose, and the environment."

Another non-toxic brand I LOVE to use is Method. The Pink Grapefruit All Surface spray is so great! And I love the Daily Shower spray! I have used other shower sprays and I would have to leave the bathroom after using them because I could not breath! Method's spray smells like a spa so you want to breath it! Ahhhh! I can usually find Method at Target. Gotta love Target!