Marvin J. Ashton Quote {free printable }

With a sweet newborn in the home, there is not a whole lot of projects going on. Which is fine with me (and my hubby)but I can sit at the computer, hold my baby and design. . . the best of both worlds. So, look for many a printables coming your way. 

My sweet friend trusts me to make handouts for her Young Women and church bulletin board every week/month and this was one of them. I just LOVED this quote and had to share it with my readers. You know those people who come into your life and make you want to be a better person, who loves you unconditionally and just makes you feel good. Well, I hope to be one of those people and this quote is a gentle reminder to be just that. 

It is a 5x7, just click download and print.

Enjoy!

Also want to thank Designer Blogs for the fabulous makeover!

                             

linking up to these parties: craftomaniac, not just a housewife, tip junkie, sugar bee, blue cricket design, night owl crafting, somewhat simple, house of hepworths, tater tots and jello, at the picket fence, whipperberry, i heart naptime, itsy bitsy paper

DIY Quick Fixes for Spring {Guest Post by Inspired By Grace}

I am excited to have a Grace from Inspired By Grace here to share some quick tips on getting our homes ready for spring. Yaaaaay for Spring!

The cold weather of winter drives you inside, so when spring comes you are ready to shed the jackets and enjoy the great outdoors again.  Windows are opened, and you are prepared to welcome the beauty of spring.  The colors are brighter and the grass is greener.  The dog days of summer are still a few months away, and you are looking forward to luxuriating in the mild weather heralded by spring.  Here are some DIY projects you can do around the house to get ready for the warm weather and make your home more enjoyable.

Paint

Painting is an affordable way to freshen the home and make everything look better.  Spring is a great time to do it because you can open the windows for fresh air while working the brush.   Whether you are in love with a deep color or something light and airy, there is no better time than spring to make your walls look like new again with a fresh coat of paint.

Walkways

Once summer arrives and the weather dries out, you may find that your ground is hard as a rock.  In spring, however, the ground is usually soft.  This makes it a great time to add walkways to your property.  If you have an extensive garden, consider adding a walkway to encourage people to meander through the flowers.  Put one along the driveway so you can step on clean stone instead of slippery grass when exiting the car.  Add a graceful curved walkway going to your front door for the curb appeal and intrigue.

Hard Trim

This is also a great time to do a hard trim on the bushes.  They are still dormant, so cutting them back won’t harm the plants.  The lack of leaves on some plants will also make it easier to see where you are cutting so you achieve a pleasing shape.  Be sure to trim the backs of bushes that travel along the house.  Keeping a few inches between any plants and house will help limit insect invaders and ensure that branches don’t scratch the siding. 

Fresh Window Treatments and Linens

Spring is the time to leave the deep colors of winter behind and embrace something lighter and brighter.  Switch out window treatments and hang beautiful, lightweight curtains that will let the sun shine in and remind you that warmer weather has arrived.  Store away heavy flannel blankets and replace them with lightweight throws.  Switch the bed linens from warm flannels to cool and comfortable cotton.  You will love the change of pace, and the fresh décor will put you in the mood for spring.

Sprucing up the house for spring doesn’t have to be tedious.  You can take steps to make your home more inviting and ring the new season in with style.  A fresh coat of paint will do wonders for your spring-cleaning efforts, and new linens will set the mood.  Consider adding walkways outside and take the time to shape up your landscaping, it doesn’t have to look like a Hampton home to be appealing.  You will love how your home looks now and throughout the season.

Grace is a new blogger about all things decor and design.  Come check her out  at http://inspiredbygracen.blogspot.com/

Dinner brought to you by {Pinterest}

I have Pinterest to thank for motivating me to cook and try new recipes. I am a visual person and am easily sold when I see delicious looking food. I am starting a new series here on my tried and true recipes found via Pinterest, called

First up on the menu:

Mexican Stuffed Shells from The Way to His Heart. 

I might be eating these as I type, so good:)

Chicken & Dumpling Casserole from Plain Chicken

Dumplings and one pot dinners (i.e. casseroles): two of my favorite things to make and eat. Combine them and you get this goodness.

Pepperoni Rolls by What About Pie

In Cleveland, we lived a block away from the best calzones and just about walked there every Thursday night to get their 2 for 1 deal. Well, we have been away for almost 2 years now and eating these Pepperoni rolls reminded me of those oh so good calzones. I added some olives, spinach and canadian bacon to mine because that is what I loved in Cleveland.

And for some good snacks, side dishes and desserts:

Keep Your Diet Real rounded up 20 Quick & Healthy snacks and since I just had a baby. . . I need all the quick and "healthy" snacks I can get. I am obsessed with apples topped with peanut butter and granola and bananas and chocolate pudding. 

Cheesy Stuffed Sourdough Loaf by NancyCreative

AMAZING, enough said. 

Grasshopper Mint Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies form Six Sister's Stuff.

Always in need of some green dessert around this time and chocolate and mint is just the thing. Too bad my husband isn't a fan of mint flavored things. . . a whole batch to myself:)

Come by again to see what we are cooking around here!

Console TV Makeover

I had the best time with this TV makeover!

Here is the console TV that I found on Craigslist in the "FREE" section...

(I don't know how I convinced my husband to pick this up with me, but he must love me a lot because he did.. and then only teased me a little about our "new tv").

See? and then he tried to take it apart (but gave up and watched the race instead).

So I took it apart the next morning (with helpers, of course!).

Here is Penny reporting the news for me.

The actual glass television part was SUPER heavy.

I ended up rolling it into a pink tote for my husband to take to the curb.

Once I got it cleaned out, I painted two coats of aqua on the outside and two coats of yellow inside. And here's a secret... this was originally supposed to be a dog bed, HOWEVER- the dog wouldn't get in it and the kids wouldn't get out!

Above, you can see how I took off the back and covered it.

I used a tablecloth and cut a hole for the "window" (Also, the Radiation warning. eek!)

Play date!
During the play date, I made a curtain out of an old pillowcase and hung it with a tension rod.
The girls haven't gotten out! So far, it has been a reading nook, a house, a bus, an airplane, a puppet theater, a *very* brief dog bed, a hideout and a store.

-Sarah

linking up to these parties:

craftomaniac, not just a housewife, tip junkie, sugar bee, blue cricket design, night owl crafting, somewhat simple, tater tots and jello, at the picket fence, remodelaholic, whipperberry, ,i heart naptime, diy showoff, be different act normal

March Visiting Teaching Message {free printable}

Are the months flying by to anybody else??? How is it already March?? Time needs to slow down so my baby STOPS growing so fast. 

You can find this month's visiting teaching message from the Ensign HERE. I so love the lesson taught here, that we are LITERALLY daughters of God. . . meaning we have been blessed with spiritual gifts to help build the kingdom of God here on earth. There is no doubt that woman have a great sense of compassion and sense when others are in need, and I love that through Relief Society we are able to help those sisters around us. I know I have been the fortunate recipient of many sisters help in my ward who have listened to the spirit in knowing that I needed a little boost:)

This month's printable is a 4x6, you can download just one per page (below) . . .

or two 4x6's per page (below). Just click the download button, print and deliver to your sisters!

This was my sad, sad attempt at making sugar cookies for the ladies I visit teach. I told my husband that I think there is something wrong with our oven because I have over-cooked or under-cooked just about everything lately . . . his response, "I guess there has been something wrong with our past 5 ovens than."

His not so subtle way of saying, "You are a terrible cook."

I am going to blame it on the little green guys who are already started to cause mischief around here:)