I know for many summer is well underway, but my kids just got out of school last week and I still have a week left. So, I might be a little behind the eight ball on this, but we finally sat down this weekend and created our summer bucket list. This year I wanted to do something fun and visible, so that it would be a daily reminder of all the fun things we have planned!
I decided to put together a pennant banner that I could print out quickly and easily. After designing the template, the whole thing took me about 10 minutes to put together! Score! I used this template, which you can download for free HERE.
Then, in Picasa I added the words using this font (which you can get HERE)
To put the banner together, I just hot glued the pennants onto grosgrain ribbon and then added some buttons at the ends for a little added detail.
I just used regular computer paper, but I would recommend using a heavier card stock so that the light doesn't shine through. These pictures were nearly impossible to take with all the back light.
Here's what's on our Bucket List for Summer of 2012: Family Bike Trip Newport Beach with our Cousins Phillies Game Camping Outdoor Movie Night Sleepover with Friends Tubing Down the Delaware Dorney Park See Fireworks Bonfire Family Bike Trip
I'm pretty happy with our cute summer bucket list and I'm super excited for all the fun things we have planned!
We're so sad to see this Fall-lover's series come to an end already. It feels like we're just getting started! You can catch up on Days 1-4 here, here, here and here. But because we just can't get enough of this season, we're going ahead and giving you our Fab Find: Top Fall Finds 1. Create a Bucket List. Fall is chock full of fun things to do with your family. Print out a must-do list like this one… Update: We found out who created this adorable printable: Katie at Loves of Life! Go on over to her super cute, super fun blog to get your own printable! Thanks, Katie.: )
Source: i1101.photobucket.com via Jessica on Pinterest …or create a custom one using Picnik for your family and hang it up. I'm putting mine in a frame (with the glass still in it) in the kitchen and will use a dry erase marker to place check marks in the boxes of the ones we did! That way we can use it year after year…let the traditions begin! 2. Fill your home with the Scents of Fall. Mmmmm…pumpkin pie and spiced apple cider. I don't know anyone who doesn't love those smells. Load up on candles in scents that remind you of the season (my fav is Autumn Wreath from Yankee Candle. Get a $10 off coupon here).
1. Yankee Candle 2. Jack-O-Lantern Pomander 3. Fragrances of Fall 3. Traditions. Every year we go on the same hayride that takes us to the same pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins and we usually run into friends while we're there. (Bob White Acres, for those of you who are local. It's the best!) And we always host a Halloween party before all of our kids go out trick-or-treating together. Monica and Eric usually host at least one firepit and smores night during the Fall, too. It doesn't matter what it is- just do something this year that you'll want to do again next and the year after that. Traditions make the season something to look forward to!
4. Wear a Dressed-up Sweatshirt You know you want to wear sweatshirts all the time in the Fall, but you also don't want to be that frumpy mom. Mix that comfy sweatshirt with some style with this DIY old sweatshirt makeover.
Source: etsy.com via Jessica on Pinterest 5. Get Saucy Maybe one of your new traditions will be apple picking?? I'm from New England and we take our apple picking very seriously. We go back up north every fall to pick in Massachusetts.
You already know that I love making pies, but apple sauce is a family favorite too! It tastes amazing and makes my house smell even better. This site has some awesome recipies for all kinds of different sauces.
Source: familyfeedbag.com via Kay on Pinterest
So, there you have it, our Fab Finds for Fall… Now, we want your help… Leave us a comment letting us know what else needs to be on a Fall Fab Find List. Just to give you a little incentive, we're giving away another Starbucks giftcard to a randomly chosen commenter. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte would totally be my number 6 on this list.
Leave a comment by Sunday night at 10pm and we'll announce the winner on Monday morning. Have an awesome weekend and make sure those DVRs are set to see us on The Nate show Thursday, September 22nd! (Check your local listing for time and channel)
This is NOT a sponsored post. I just want to share with you some of my favorite things!
You may remember that a few weeks ago (or was it months? I can't remember anymore!) we mentioned that we attended the new Ladies Home Journal launch in NYC. We got the chance to chat with the amazing women who are in charge of making the magazine fabulous, and had a great time brainstorming about how we can begin contributing to the magazine. But, I just have to say that one of the best parts of the day was walking away with a swag bag filled with amazing stuff! I've taken my time and used most of the products, and wanted to give you a rundown of my absolute favorites out of all the goodies. Trust me, once you try them (or try them on, in some cases), you'll be hooked too! Capri Blue by Aspen Bay Candles
This candle is like heaven on earth for me. I absolutely adore it. There are several different scents in the Capri Blue line, all of which sound amazing, but ours is the Volcano scent. It's a mix of tropical fruits and sugared citrus. It's a super fresh and clean smell that I'm loving with the spring weather we've been having. Gorjana Leather Wrap Bracelet
This bracelet is sweet and tough all at the same time. And I don't think you can tell in the picture, but it's a really pretty, metallic pale pink color. Of course it comes in loads of other colors, as well. Gorgeous. LeighElena Wide Jigsaw Bracelet
This bracelet is a show-stopper. No joke- every time I wear it someone asks me about it, or tells me how awesome it is. It is so cool. Obviously, I'm at a loss for words because it's just that awesome. It's a bit pricey at about $110, but man, it's money well spent (or would be, had I bought it.) Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara
Monica and I both agree that this mascara is the best. I have seriously short eyelashes, and because of this mascara, my eyelashes have never been so long (Maybelline claims this mascara actually extends the length of your eyelashes up to 4 mm, and I think I agree). And just because I do crazy things I'd never thought I'd EVER do as a result of this blog, here's the living proof:
Ack. I'm checking off"go out in public au natural" off of my bucket list, since I just exposed my naked eyes to all of blogland. Yikes. (No, that is not really an item on my bucket list, people) But, with mascara = so much better, right?!
And, if for some crazy reason these pictures of me didn't didn't convince you (what's wrong with you?!), go out and buy it yourself. You'll see. Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum &Organix Morroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
Ok, I'll be honest. I haven't tried either of these, but after seeing those closeup pictures of myself it's clear that I need to start using the Protect & Perfect serum (find it at Target) that claims my skin will look younger after use. Monica did give it a try, and said it made her skin feel so smooth. And with all the abuse my hair takes (why can't I settle on just one hair color?!), I'm sure it wouldn't complain if I used the Moroccan oil shampoo every once in a while. Have you ever received a Swag Bag? If so, did you fall in love with anything you got? If not, what items would be a MUST in your Swag Bag?
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Happy Monday, guys! We've had a busy weekend filming back to back episodes for Knock It Off, but we wanted to pop in and give you a round-up of our favorite summer items from some of our favorite companies! These wonderfully talented people make this blog possible, and we've gotta say, they're stuff is stinkin' awesome! Check them out, show them some love and don't forget to look for special coupon codes just for you!
1. I am LOVING this Tangerine Braid Headband from Henle Headbands- that color just calls my name! 2. Monica is obsessed with these Slim Cool Salmon flip-flops from Havaianas that come in lots of cool colors. 3.Isn't this Flower Leather Cuff Bracelet from Belmonili super cute? You ALWAYS get free shipping within continental US. Use the code BelmoniliECC for 10% off your order!
4. Our absolute favorite thrift store is having a 50% off sale on all media items at Liberty Thrift Stores, which- need we remind you?- includes books! Thrift stores are treasure troves of books with great covers, perfect for styling your home. (Picture Source) 5. Guys, you know we love a good DIY project, but some of you complain you don't where to begin or even what to do once you start. You have no excuse anymore because Bareroot Design Studios offers Design Workshops that will teach you how to get the look you want for your home. For all you locals, Bareroot Design Studio is hosting anOPEN HOUSE on Saturday, June 15th from 1-3pm. You do not want to miss this!
6. We have shared our love for Lucent Lampworks over and over again, but this Cylinder Glass Shade with Antique Bronze Down Rod just made us fall in love all over again. Save 10% when you use the code EC2tenoff.
7. I love the simple design of this Blessings Carafe from Blessings Unlimited. What a beautiful way to dress up your summer table. 8. This Affection Small Art Print from Red Letter Words is such a thoughtful and stylish gift for all of those graduates in your life. With lots of different saying, you'll be able to find the perfect one for that baby shower, wedding or graduation gift and you know what the best part is? They're only $19 each! 9. We love our phrases from 163 Design Company (see them here and here) and now they've come out with these NEST Chalkboard painted letter s, which are awesome. So cool just as they are, but even cooler that you can doodle all over them!
10. For a non-green-person like me, this Garden Planning Kit from Clean Mama Printables is clutch. This baby will help you achieve the garden you've always wanted It includes: *Planter Planner*Garden Plan Grid*Plant Record (keep track of all your plants in one place — glue on a large envelope and keep your receipts and plant info to keep track of plants that need to be returned or relocated)*Garden Plans — This Year + Next Year*Yearly Annuals, Perennials, and Trees + Shrubs Tracker*Yearly Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs Tracker 11. I know it says"Spring" in the title, but this Riley Spring Paper Pack from Moo & Puppy screams summer to me! Are you making a summer bucket list this year? Use this paper as a background for your big list of activities for your family! Use EC215 for 15% off your order! 12. Don't forget to check out the c urrent issue of Smart, Blonde and Craft y for loads of fun and creative DIY ideas to fill your summer and it's totally FREE! Also, make sure you take a look at all the fun blogs listed- you might come across one you've never heard of before!
13. I'm sorry but these Typewriter Key Bracelet from Junxtaposition are just so dang fun. Choose your design or pick one out as a one-of-a-kind gift for a friend. 14. I love the smell of citrus in the summer, and the NEW! Wood Wick Candles from CJS EcoChic are soy so that sweet smell will last a loooooong time. 15. Remember that faux stained glass window I made two years ago? I used this Artscape Window Film. It adheres to any window, is easy to customize and is a breeze to install. This stuff makes a HUGE statement without working hard for it. Plus, it can add some privacy and style where there is none!
16. I got this XXL Utility tote from Thirty-One Gifts and it is fabulous! It can hold so much stuff, and it easily collapses when I'm ready to put it away. I'm a huge fan of the nautical look, so the navy and white just stole my heart.: ) My bag holds a lot of the typical summer items you need when you're a mom of two little ones: towels, swimmies, suntan lotion, toys, but still looks good! C heck out Mandy's guest post HERE to hear more about her story and how she was able to leave her full-time job when she joined 31! Go ahead and contact Mandy at hajelfamily@yahoo.com or check out her website for more info.
17. We've recently found the DIYers solution to dirty, nasty nails. Gel manicures at Oasis Salon. Monica has been telling the entire world that her polish is lasting over 3 weeks! I have to admit, they do look awesome even with all our DIYing. If you're local you HAVE to try out their amazing pedicures and gel manicures. We can't get enough. Visit Oasis, tell them EC2 sent you and get 10% OFF one visit!
18. Ahhhh, how amazing is this Herringbone Shuffle Stencil from Royal Design Studio? I've been wracking my brain trying to find a place for it in my house. Think the baby would like it? Use the code ECC10 for 10% off your order.
19. And last, but not least, our favorite family photographer (and the official photographer of EC2. Ha!) Stacy of Salvatori Photography. This girl is seriously talented and has a fun personality to boot! She just did our gender reveal photo shoot and a few months ago, photographed Monica's family doing their thing on a Saturday morning. Make sure you like her facebook page because she's always running fun contests. We promise that you will LOVE working with Stacy and will have fabulous photos that will last forever! Ok, folks, time to shop! Have fun.: )
It's actually incredibly hard to believe that we are 2 years in to this whole blogging thing. Last year we celebrated our one year blogiversary with loads of talented guest posters, giveaways and fun facts about our crazy first year. This year, we have soooo much going on that we just couldn't swing all that, but we still wanted to recognize some of the funny, ridiculous and amazing things that have happened to us over the past two years. But before that we want to thank YOU guys, whether you're a brand new reader or have been here for the long haul, for your support and encouragement to us. We would be nothing without you guys!! So thank you. Now, for the fun part;
Three Posts We Wished We'd Never Written We seriously laugh out loud sometimes about the posts we wrote when we first started. Let's just say it took us awhile to figure out our niche.; ) I'm sure there are tons of other lousy posts, but these are a few of the ones we love to hate. 1. In our second month of blogging we wrote a post entitled, For All You Tomboys Out There about how to braid your hair. Ha! As if we are experts about anything related to hair. Hilarious. (Our friend, Jane, did the braid, and she IS awesome at doing hair, but us? Not so much.)
2. I threw an Angelina Ballerina-themed 3rd birthday party and posted about it way back when. The party was cute enough, but nothing over the top, and the pictures are pitifully bad. The funny part is that this is one of our most successful posts! I guess there aren't too many people throwing Angelina birthday parties??
3. Monica shared her adventures in trying to DIY a belt out of fabric in this post. Even her daughter was like,"Ewww…Mom, don't wear that." Love that.
Blog Design for Beginners We prided ourselves on doing everything by ourself- including our blog design. We did ok for novices, and actually have done everything related to the way our blog runs and looks ourselves until the last 6 months or so. Now, we happily turn our ideas over to Kim, at 733 Design, for our custom blog design. Anyway, take a look at the way things used to be… Header 1… Designed at 12am the night we randomly decided to start a blog…
Header 2… About 3 months in…
Header 4… this one lasted about 2 minutes. We hated it!
Header 5… this one lasted for almost a year until we had to play the name swaparoo game…
Ahh… How much we love Kim and her design expertise. She"gets" us and did a great job on our logo and header!
Five Incredible Opportunities We've Received as a result of this Blog All that goofiness aside, we have been blessed to have some awesome experiences because of this little ol' blog and we're sure we're on the verge of lots more. 1. The Nate Show: Last year we had the priviledge of being on four episodes of Nate's 2011-2012 season and it was a blast. Nate is a sweetie, and we fell in love with live TV, for sure. This will forever remain as one of the highlights of our blogging careers.
2. Mexico: Thanks to our buddy, Nate, we won a trip for 6 days to Cancun, Mexico that totally rocked. We had such a blast with two other girlfriends and enjoyed loads of down time and really great food. Without this blog= no Mexico= sad girls.
3. HGTV Magazine and Ladies Home Journal
4. Feautred on Young House Love! I think every blogger wants to be featured by John and Sherry (if you're living under a rock, they are THE biggest and most successful home bloggers out there) and we got our opportunity with the Guest Room Makeover we did for a friend. Check that off the bucket list.: )
5. Creating with the Stars. It's crazy how things come full circle, isn't it? We LOVED being a part of this contest, and are even more thrilled to be hosting it this year! Speaking of CWTS, TODAY is the last day to enter your projects! Over the next week, we (with the help of the 12 stars) will be poring over the submissions to choose the best contestants! Don't forget- the contestants and their blog star partners will be announced next Friday, March 1st! Get excited, people, get very excited.
So, we've shared our highs and lows from the past two years, and again we want to say that we are so honored to have had you on this amazing journey with us. 2013 promises to be our BIGGEST year yet, so hold on tight, we're all in for a crazy ride! In honor of 2 Rockin' Years of Blogging, we're gonna open the floor for a little Q and A… Leave a comment asking us anything under the sun and we'll respond. It can be about blogging, life, our friendship, how to braid hair (haha!) or whatever you want to know. We'll comment back throughout the day! So… what do you want to know??
Looking for the top 12 contestant announcement for Creating with the Stars? You can find them, the awesome projects that earned them a spot and their amazing blog star partners here. Don't forget to like us on facebook and follow us on Twitter @EC2blog for all the up-to-date info and juicy details!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm so excited to show you guys the first step I took in making our living room jive with the attached dining room. This project is super simple, easy on the wallet and totally customizable! Love that.
We're both huge fans of Ikea. I mean, really, who doesn't love cheap, Swedish, hard-to-pronounce and even-harder-to-put-together furniture? I purchased this chair for the my living room, but the scale of it just wasn't right. It really needed something to help fill the space, and I thought an ottoman would do the trick nicely. While at IKEA, I came across this LACK side table which is only 10 bucks (depending on the finish you choose), and knew it would work as an ottoman that could fill the void in my living room. Round up the following supplies and let's get started! Lack side table 1 1/2 yards of fabric 1 1/2 yards of quilt batting- Look for a coupon or a sale on this! Foam (mine is 2 inches thick)- Don't buy without a coupon! Staple Gun Spray adhesive Paint (optional) Chop saw (optional)
1. Lay the table top upside down on the foam and trace it using a Sharpie.
2. Cut the foam with an electric carving knife. I saw the girls at JoAnn's doing this, and let me tell you, the foam cuts like butter when you do it this way! If you don't have one, use an X-acto knife or razor.
3. Spray one side of the foam with adhesive and press it firmly onto the table top.
4. Grab your helper and lay the foam-covered table top onto the quilt batting and trim the excess. Make sure you leave enough batting around the edges to cover the sides of the table. (Adorable little helper is optional.)
5. Using your staple gun, fold one corner in towards the middle of the table and staple into place. Work your way around the table pulling tight on the batting and stapling as you go. Use a hammer to wack any stubborn staples into place. I've always wanted to use"wack" in a sentence. Check that off the bucket list.
6. Iron your fabric so you don't have to deal with any annoying wrinkles. Or ignore this step if wrinkles don't drive you nuts. If they don't, I envy you. Please tell me your secret.
7. Determine the placement of your fabric and trim the excess, but be generous with your cuts so that you have enough to go all the way around. Working the same way as with the batting, start with the corner and fold towards the middle. Staple in place. Work your way around, pulling the fabric tight. Every once in a while, flip the top over so you can make adjustments to the placement of the fabric if necessary (and it will be necessary, trust me!)
8. This step is completely optional, as well. I wanted the ottoman to be a bit lower than the height of the seat of the chair, so I used a chop saw to cut about 3 inches off of all four legs. Surprise! Ikea table legs are hollow! I guess that's how they keep the price at $10. *Wink*
9. To achieve a similar finish to the chair, I used two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk paint in French Linen, then lightly spray painted them with Valspar Satin in La Fonda.
That's it! For under $25, I have an adorable ottoman that helps ground the chair in my living room, adds additional seating (yes! You can sit on it!), and a comfy place to put your feet up at the end of the day. I call that a win-win.
I'm super happy with the finished product, and love that I can easily change the fabric when I get tired of this one. I mean, let's be honest, that WILL happen at some point, knowing me, and when it does, it won't break the bank to recover it! Woohoo! To see these other projects in the living room, click below:
Planked Wall with Exposed Studs Stenciled Faux-Tile Fireplace Have a happy Tuesday!
First off, if you haven't been using digital scapbook paper: why the heck not?!! You can create completely custom, totally cute and very affordable cards, banners, cupcake toppers, pennant banners, posters, or any sort of printable you want EASILY! I am clearly not the first person to ever post about this, but if I can convince just one of you to give this a try, then I will be a happy woman.
Last week, I showed you the birthday party invite I made using digital scrapbook paper for Charlie's 2nd birthday. You might remember that it looked like this;
We've also used it to create printables for our homes, like these:
Glory of God Printable
Summer Bucket List Printable Anyway, there are a TON of things you can make, and I want to show you, in just a few steps, how I do it! Today, I made two different thank you cards, one with a picture, and one without. Here's what they look like:
To make the card with the picture, here's what I did:
I went to my favorite digital scrapbook paper store, Moo & Puppy, and picked out a pack of paper that I liked. She has SO many cute and modern options, that you'll be able to find anything you're looking for! I used the Gridley Patriot pack.
When you receive the paper download after purchasing, it will show up on your computer like this:
Then, I upload the paper I want to use into Picmonkey, just like I would upload a picture. In picmonkey, I crop the paper (I believe it comes as 12x12 sheets), to the size I want to print- in this case I cropped it to 5x7.
I knew I wanted to add a picture, but I wanted to create a layer for a more professional look. I clicked on the geometric overlays, chose the rectangle shape, and then changed the color of the shape to navy blue. This created the"frame" for my picture.
To add my picture, I clicked on the"your own" tab (you can see it in the top left corner on the pic above) and chose the picture I wanted to upload.
Once I resized my picture to fit the"frame" beneath it, I started messing around with all the fun overlay options they have. I decided to go with comic bubbles for a fun kid element, and layered them again to create depth.
I added a bar across the bottom by choosing the rectangle shape and stretching it out to fit the width of the card:
Finally, I added my writing, saved it to my computer, and ta-dah! I'm done!
I'll probably print these out on heavy card stock, but you could also have them printed at Walmart or Target in a matte finish for better picture quality. It's so easy to do, and I LOVE that I can make things exactly the way I want them. It makes it so easy to coordinate everything, from the invitations all the way to the thank you cards.
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