i should be mopping the floor: May 2015
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Inspiration Monday

Woowoo...it's my FAVORITE day of the week, y'all! Time to link up and browse some serious awesomeness. From summer inspiration to delicious recipes, there's so much eye candy here, friends! We're about to start building an ark down here in Texas if we have any more rain. Hoping for some summery days, soon (I know I'll totally regret that wish come August)!

So what have you been up to?When you join the Inspiration Monday party your link shows up on all 7 blogs, I know right?  We think that's pretty cool, too. The suspense is too much, we just have to see what you have been working on this week!

Free Printable Maritime Flags


These Free Printable Maritime Flags are the perfect addition to your summertime decor. 
Signal flags A-Z are available for download below.

Free Printable Maritime Flags | Complete set of A-Z International Maritime Signal Flags | Instant Download
I've been dying to post these maritime signal flags for the longest time, y'all. In fact, they were on my agenda as a free printable for last summer. However, I sometimes have more ideas than I do time to actually carry them out! These are just meant for decorative purposes...but aren't they just so fun!? I put together the A-Z signal flags in one set below. They each have their own meaning and it's kind of fun to even use them to spell out words (perfect for a nursery or kid's room!). In the print file, I included which letter each flag represents. For my photos, I didn't arrange them in any intentional fashion...so if I accidentally spelled out something a little naughty, I do apologize! ;)

21 Free Patriotic Font Downloads

These 21 Free Patriotic Font downloads are perfect for your summer crafts, printables, vinyl projects, and more. They're the perfect typographical way to create all sorts of red, white, and blue fun. Download one or all of these patriotic font downloads below.

Patriotic Font Downloads
It's no big secret that I LOVE me some fonts. Have you seen all of my font collections? Yeah...loooove. And I also love me some red, white, and blue kind of fun, too, y'all. This is one of my favorite times of the year...the most patriotic and fun season of them all. Here are some of my absolute favorite America-ish patriotic font downloads that I enjoy to using on printables and with my vinyl crafts. Let the downloading fun commence below.

Free Printable Summer Memory Journal Cards

 These Free Printable Summer Memory Journal Cards are perfect for capturing all of the highlights of the next few months. They're perfect for grown ups and kids alike. #IDelightin10

Free Printable Summer Memory Journal Cards | The perfect activity for kids (and adults) to jot down all of their favorite memories of the summer. | Instant  Download
My kids are excited about our plan to journal our way through the summer. This is such a fun activity for kiddos to do...and the journaling time lets mom and dad have a few minutes to themselves! Download your free cards below. 

Inspiration Monday

Here we are at the (unofficial) start of SUMMAHHHHH!
I'm ready to slather on the 50 SPF and sit on a float in a pool all the live-long day!

If you're one of my readers in the USA, hope you're having a lovely Memorial Day weekend, too. Sometimes it's hard to use the phrase "happy Memorial Day" since this weekend has so much meaning behind it. My family lives in Killeen, Texas, just north of Austin...and home to Fort Hood, one of the largest US Army posts in north America. I'm also an Army brat, so this holiday is just one of those that tugs at my heart. I'm grateful to all of those who have served and given so much more than I can even wrap my brain around. I'm thankful for my military community and all that they do. I watch my friends serve, support spouses who serve and wait patiently on the home front. My love and thanks goes out to all of you.



As the temperatures warm up, cool down with some of these refreshingly inspirational features! 

Free Printable Patriotic Monograms

These Free Printable Patriotic Monograms are the perfect way to add some red, white, and blue to your summer decor.  Download your monogram below.

Free Printable Patriotic Monograms | Letters A-Z Available | Instant Downloads
I feel like Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the patriotic season. From now until the FOJ (fourth of July), I love to bust out the red, white, and blue errrrr-where. When my husband and I were first married (almost 13 years ago!), we decorated...ahem, I decorated our home in Americana decor from floor to ceiling, y'all. When I started phasing that out a few years later, I set aside a few of my favorite pieces and love to pull them out every year at this time. I thought it would be fun to add a monogram to the festive fun this year. Letters A-Z are available for instant download below.

Bounty Celebrates 50 Years as America’s #QuickerPickerUpper

Today's post is sponsored by Bounty. I'm a member of the Quicker Picker Upper Team.

My friends at Bounty are celebrating 50 years as America's #QuickerPickerUpper. Check out how Bounty has fit seamlessly into my DIY life over the years...as well as how it has fit into the lives of others below.
Bounty Celebrates 50 Years as America’s #QuickerPickerUpper
Bounty, the long lasting quicker picker-upper, has been soaking up spills and helping pick up everyday messes in American homes for over 50 years. Check out my photos from over the years on how I've incorporated these paper towels into so many of my own jobs.

Easy Pizza Dip

This Easy Pizza Dip is perfect for your next gathering. 
It goes together fast and is crustless...perfect for low carb diets.

Easy Pizza Dip | Perfect low carb recipe that kids and adults both love!
This Easy Pizza Dip was my lifeline when I did low carb dieting, y'all. Even now that I have a completely different nutritional plan, we still indulge in this every once in a while. It's yummy and crust-free, so it comes together really easily. If you want to do the lower card version, serve it with veggies or some of those homemade cheese crisps I see floating around Pinterest all the time! Check out the easy recipe below.

DIY Patio Area with Texas Lamp Posts

This post for a DIY Patio contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I make a small portion when these links are used, at no additional cost to you.

Our DIY Patio Area (with "Texas Lamp Posts") is finally complete. We brought it to life with lots of colorful flowers and decor. We're really proud of how this space turned out. It has brought us outside so much more! Come see how this DIY Patio Area came together.

DIY Patio

We put the finishing touches on our little DIY patio last week. I'm in love with our new Sturdy Planted Posts (or "Texas Lamp Posts" as a friend named them). Adding hanging baskets and vintage strands of lights to them have really brought the entire area to life. We absolutely love hanging out here and are thrilled that it's ready for summer entertaining and relaxing.


Inspiration Monday

Hey, friends! I hope you've had an awesome week. We've been busy finishing up our patio area and now I just can't wait for summer! I can't wait to see what you've been up to!
Spend a few minutes browsing all the fabulous and creative
ideas our readers have shared below. And, if you’re a blogger,
link your latest creations and have your awesomeness
seen on 7 different blogs!
This week’s features were selected by Tanya at twelveOeight:

Free Summertime Watercolor Facebook Timelines

These Free Summertime Watercolor Facebook Timelines are
the perfect way to HEAT up your cover this season!

Free Summertime Watercolor Facebook Timelines | Six Free Designs | Instant Downloads
I seriously can't wait for summer. Like...really. I'm ready to throw on the flip flops and hang out at the pool with my kids. And turn off the stinkin' alarm clock (can I get an amen?). Grab one of these free summertime watercolor Facebook timelines below to get your cover ready for the warmer weather.

Essential Oils Uses in a Detox Bath

These Essential Oils Uses Post has not been evaluated by the FDA. I'm not a doctor and cannot diagnose, prescribe, or treat.

These Essential Oils Uses in a Detox Bath are great to wash away the cares of the day. From seasonal issues to stress, there's something for every bath. If you're new to essential oils uses, this is a fun way to dive in. Pun intended. To be up front, I still avidly use Young Living Essential Oils, however, I no longer promote them in a business manner. 
Essential OIls

Have you ever taken a detox bath? If you're looking for great essential oils uses, this is one of the best ways to put your little bottles of awesome to work for you. We've tried all of the beow detox bath combinations to help our family with various issues. 

DIY iPhone Projector

This post for a DIY iPhone Projector contains affiliate links. I make a small portion when these links are used, at no additional cost to you.

This DIY iPhone Projector helped me make this state art I'm sharing below...and countless other pieces since. And any smart phone will work. Once you construct your own projector, the projects are endless.

DIY iPhone Projector

My husband is a high school principal. Once or twice a year, I'd get a wild hair and need an overhead projector for a project...or ten. He'd give me the whole "do you have any idea how hard those are to track down these days...nobody uses them anymore?!?". And I'd pretty please my way into a campus-wide hunt for that one lonely overhead that a teacher had hidden in the depths of their closet somewhere. It was getting to be a bit of an ordeal to come by one of these projectors, ya know? When my friend told me she heard about people making a projector with an iphone and a cardboard box, I was all over that, y'all. Check out how I made my own version below.

Soda-Lighted Printable Gift Tags for Dads and Grandpas

This post for Soda-Lighted gift tags contains affiliate links. I make a small portion when these links are used, at no additional cost to you.

These Soda-Lighted Printable Gift Tags are the perfect way to share a soda with all the dads in your family's life. Eight designs (with a variety of dad and grandpa names) are available below.

Soda-Lighted Printable Gift Tags for Dads and Grandpas | Makes the Perfect Father's Day Gift
Sharing Cokes with my dad is a long-standing family tradition...I thought it would be fun to circle back to this basic love this father's day. It all began in the early eighties...

Inspiration Monday

Hello, sweet friends. I know that Mother's Day can be different for all of us...for some it is a joyous day full of celebration...for others it can lean a little to the sad side, for various reasons. I just want to say that I hope you're having a lovely day, no matter what your situation. Hoping that you are, indeed, somehow blessed today!

Me and my mom, February 2015


This week’s features were selected by Julie from Redhead Can Decorate

Free Printable Summer Plaid Monograms

These Free Printable Summer Plaid Monograms are the 
perfect addition to your decor this coming season! Grab your own monogram below.Free Printable Summer Plaid Monograms | A-Z Available for Instant Download | 8x10 design
It's been a little bit since I've posted a monogram printable...with the summer season upon us, I knew I wanted to whip a new one up! And who can resist a fun plaid design? These fun colors just scream SUMMER, too, y'all! Download yours below.

Free and Fabulous Chalk Fonts Part Two

These Free and Fabulous Chalk Fonts are the perfect addition to your font-abulous library! This is my second edition of these...more modern and up-to-date...perfect for printables, vinyl and tons of craft projects. Download yours below.

Free and Fabulous Chalk Fonts Part Two
If you love fonts as much as I do...these chalk-style ones will make you weak in the knees! I've also got some fabulous chalk laurels, banners, arrows, and dingbats for you, too!

DIY Sturdy Planted Posts

This post for DIY Sturdy Planted Posts contains affiliate links. I make a small portion when these links are used, at no additional cost to you. 

These DIY Sturdy Planted Posts went together easily and are perfect for the yard! I can already think of a thousand uses for them. Where would YOU use these DIY Sturdy Planted Posts?
Posts for Patio Lights

DIY Sturdy Planted Posts

Growing up, my parents' yard was always so lush and beautiful. Our home had a pool and I can remember many fun gatherings around it (and in it!). Both my mom and dad worked so hard to keep the yard and patio absolutely lovely. There were lush flowers everywhere and the entire yard was bordered three feet deep with Asian Jasmine, lined with railroad ties to separate the Jasmine from the thick St. Augustine grass. We lived in an older area of Austin and there were beautiful, established trees everywhere (that dropped buckets of leaves into that pool...much to my dad's chagrin). My mom even had flowering, overflowing baskets hanging from limbs of trees. My parents both worked full-time, so looking back, I'm truly amazed they were able to keep up such a beautiful area on their own. I strive to keep up our own yard looking just a little bit as pretty as my parents' did, but our lives are super busy. But, we have worked hard this last year or so to really bring our backyard together...and that hard work has really started to pay off. Because of all of this work, we've truly been enjoying this area more, too. 
We've added these DIY sturdy planted posts into some whiskey barrel planters to hang strings of lights all around our firepit area. These types of planted posts would be perfect for mailboxes, hanging baskets, and so much more, too. 
See how we made them super sturdy (to withstand crazy Texas thunderstorms) below.

Inspiration Monday

It's party day, y'all! I'm so glad you are here.
If you’re needing a little inspiration, you are definitely at the right place.
Spend a few minutes browsing all the fabulous and creative
ideas our readers have shared below. Of course, if you’re a blogger,
link your latest creations and have your work
seen on 7 different blogs!

Mother's Day Essential Oil Special

 I'm offering this exclusive Mother's Day Special from now through May 12th.

Now is a wonderful time to dip your toe into the world of Young Living Essential Oils! If you've always wanted to try them, my Mother's Day Special is a fantastic way to treat yourself or another special mom in your life!

I've been oily for nearly a year. It's changed our lives in more ways than I can even mention. Read all of my essential oils posts here to see how we use oils.
I've love for you to experience the same fantastic results from incorporating essential oils into your own family's life. Purchase our Premium Starter Kit {contains 11 oils, a fantastic home diffuser, and more} and receive three special goodies from me!


Pictured above is our Premium Starter Kit. Just with the 11 oils in it, you can help your family in numerous ways for both emotional and physical needs.
It includes Frankincense, Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil), Thieves Oil (AMAZING for immunity), Purification, Joy, Lavender, PanAway, Peppermint, Stress Away, Lemon, & Citrus Fresh.
 Below are my three free Mother's Day gifts to you. 


 
I'm throwing in a full bottle of Sacred Mountain Oil {one of my favorites that is very emotionally helpful to me and may be to you as well}, a Quick Reference Guide for Using Essential Oils, and a set of bottle labels. 

When you sign up with my team, you receive support all the time...we're a little family of friends who love to help each other in our oily journeys! We'd be delighted for you to join us. Many on our team have been using oils for years...we have a lot of experience among us and can't wait to help you in any way possible!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR PREMIUM STARTER KIT
{You'll need to sign up with a wholesale membership to get the kit...it gets you wholesale pricing for an entire year!} Once I am alerted on my end of your purchase, I will email you with details of your free goodies {AND printable Mother's Day card to tell your recipient of her FABULOUS gift of essential oils!}.

OR CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.




How to Create a Simple Chalkboard Printable


Below I'm sharing an easy tutorial on how to create a simple chalkboard printable.

Step-by-step tutorial on how to create a simple chalkboard printable.
One question that I get asked more than any..."how do I create a chalkboard printable?" I thought it would be fun to do a tutorial over this...and to tell you where I get a lot of the art work I use for printables.