DIY Decorating with Photos

As you know, I have been knee deep in re-decorating our new home.  It is an interesting type of decorating.  We know that this will be more of a transitional home, and we will only be here for a few years and then we will be moving on.  The walls are concrete (I think) and painted a very stark white.  We are able to add a lot of personal touches, but somewhat limited too.  I am so thankful for more space and have had fun moving things around to create great spaces.

I thankfully brought everything from home to help me make this new house our new home.  So, today I am going to share how I took one large photo wall and turned it into two photo walls along with some of my tips and tricks!

This is my office (I ended up creating an office zone in our Living Room).  Say hi to Connor. :)  I took all of the photos that had the white and yellow mattes, since they would tie better with our Living Room colors.

This was our former photo wall in our old home - I shared all about this wall over here.

The red mattes made their way into our office/den. 

 I used brighter colors in here so the red fit right in!

So...time to share some of my tips and tricks!

I discovered the beauty of these Velcro command strips, they worked great on my frames that have those pesky double hooks.  On the lighter frames with only one hook I used small nails.

Command Website

Then, I have this rule, to make sure my pictures don't swing and sway.  I use a little putty.  

Makes me think about David Putty. :)

A little bit goes a long way, to keep those frames in place!  I usually put a dab on the bottom two corners.

Do I measure between the photos?  No.

Do I map it out ahead of time? No.

Do I just go for it? 

YES!

YOU can too!  There is no right or wrong way to put up photos and frames.  Just play with it.  I have found that I never like it right away, but if I wait a day or two and live with it, then it grows on me and completes the space.  

Simple Dinner - Mediterranean Chicken

Today I am sharing an easy and healthy dinner recipe.  I'm all about attempting to control the chaos around my humble home.  Today's recipe is no exception.  This simple recipe is one that you can make in about five minutes.  You toss it together in the morning and it will be ready for you by dinner time.  This will keep your afternoon free from the chaos of cooking!  Bonus baby, big time.

Recipe - Mediterranean {Crock Pot} Chicken

Ingredients: serves 4

2 1/2 lbs frozen chicken thighs (skinned)

1 T olive oil

1 T minced garlic

2 cans diced tomatoes - undrained

Salt & Pepper

1/2 cup sliced olives

2 tsp. crushed red pepper

Directions: *Start in the morning!

Place frozen chicken thighs in Crock Pot.  Add olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes.  Cook on medium for eight-ten hours.  (This is a general guideline, you will want to verify the chicken is fully cooked by using a meat thermometer and making sure the chicken has reached 170F degrees.)  When the chicken is fully cooked, add S/P, olives and red pepper.  Simmer about 30 more minutes on low and serve.  You could serve over pasta, with rolls or a with a side salad like I did! 

*KISS - Who says you have to be slaving away in the kitchen all afternoon?  Use that Crock Pot!!! :)

Linked with Organizing Junkie, Still Being Molly, Lipgloss & Crayons, A Bowl Full of Lemons,

Cornerstone Confessions, Mums Make Lists.

Friday Fab Faves #28

OK, I can't believe I am typing this right now.

Today's FAB FAVE has to do with two things I like a lot.

#1-Surprises
#2-Travel

I am surprising my hubby with a late Birthday trip this weekend!  He had a big Birthday back in March and as much as we tried to celebrate among the boxes and him preparing for a work trip, it was not the type of Birthday one should have for that big of a Birthday.  So, I am playing catch up and bringing along one huge surprise!  Let me just say, he.has.no.idea.  And, he won't until we get to the airport and announce - you are going on a trip!  I can't wait to see his reaction!!!  By the time you are reading this we will be at our destination, so you can smile knowing that I am busy walking the streets and being a tourist with my hubby by my side.  Now there is just one detail I have not mentioned...

Where am I whisking him off to?

(source)

Maybe this will help you better....

Or this...

(source)

ROME, ITALY here we come!

I'll be back with a full report next week.  I can't wait to share how the surprise goes, and about all of our adventures.  I would say shhh.....but the secret is already out. :)

Hoping you have a FABULOUS weekend!!!

Bathroom Organizing Basics

So I've talked about organizing bathrooms a time or two.  I've shown you my old Master Bath, my old Kids Bath, and I given you snippets of my new five bathrooms in my new home, along with my "My Top Ten Tips."

You guys probably think I really like spending time in my bathroom....that is so not the case.

 I don't really like cleaning them and frankly I find blow drying my hair to be one of the biggest time thief's out there.  Let's just say I can rock a pony tail and do so a lot.

But what I do like about bathrooms is organizing them!  I like them because they are generally smaller spaces, so I find it easier to keep up on the systems.  So, today I just want to give you three simple basics.

This is so KISS - keep it simple sister!

#1

Keep the Counters Clutter Free

Use containers to organize and store things on your counters and minimize how much you actually keep on top of your counters.  Your bath will automatically look more organized if the surfaces are less cluttered!

#2

Maximize Drawer Storage

Use trays or dividers to better organize your drawers.  And, be sure to make it a habit to put things right back to where they belong. :)  

#3

Store the Extras

Designate a spot to tuck away the extras, your back stock - we call it the Target closet at our house!  No need to keep the extras mixed with what you are currently using.  Be sure to check this spot before making a shopping list, no need to have too much back stock on hand.  Can you tell I used to work in retail? :)

How are you doing with these three basics?

Are you keeping it simple sister?

Planning for a Fit YOU!

I was so honored to get to write a Guest Post for Organizing Junkie recently.  Laura, is such a great example of organization!  I love her slogan - clutter and chaos free...most of the time.  

I can soooo related to that.

When I was over at her fab site I was sharing about the fact that I am a big believer in the necessity of organizing your schedule to include taking care of your health.  When you schedule a dentist appointment, you make sure you show up don't you?  Your motivation is probably two fold.  One, because you want to take good care of your teeth, and two, because you want to avoid being charged a "no show fee."  Likewise, when you plan to work out and coordinate your meals, you are better able to meet your goals of a healthy lifestyle.  

How does being fit happen?  

Fitness happens when you take deliberate steps every day to plan what you will eat and when you will exercise.

How do You Plan to Eat Well?

*Make a weekly plan for all of your major meals/snacks and shop accordingly.

*Start each day with a goal of what and when you will eat - meals, snacks, and drinks.

*Pack snacks so you do not go too long between meals and preview menus before eating out.

How do You Plan to Exercise Often?

*Find the time of day that you are most motivated and available to exercise.

*Schedule your time slots and treat them like appointments that you can not miss.

*Build in accountability, by signing up for a class or getting a friend to meet you.

Being fit does not just happen.  

The more you plan and prepare the better your results will be.  

Take each day one day at a time, and be your biggest cheerleader.  

I'm rooting for you too!

"To be prepared is half the victory."  

Cervantes, Miguel De

And...my favorite motto - plan, plan, plan....then go with the flow!

So tell me...
Do you schedule your exercise?  Do you pre-plan your meals?



Linked with A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Zucchini / Banana Bread Recipe

It seems I am always looking for new ways to sneak more goodness into my kiddo's diets.  I mean they are just like me, and are much more inclined to want to grab some chips or crackers versus some veggies.

The other night I was making dinner and I sliced up a bunch of zucchini to make as a side dish.  I realized I had so much of it that I should whip up some zucchini bread.  I also had one really ripe banana.  So I combined the two and made a yummy Zucchini~Banana Bread.  The loaf didn't last through dinner!  (Well I added a few chocolate chips too.)

Zucchini / Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup almond flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup finely shredded unpeeled zucchini

1/8 cup cooking oil

1 mashed ripe banana

1 egg

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Mix together flour, and spices.  In a separate bowl combing sugar, zucchini, oil, banana, egg, and chips.  Add flour mixture until just combined.  Pour batter into a greased 8x4 inch loaf pan.  Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes.  Cool and serve!

How do you keep snacks healthy at your house?

Linked with Organizing Junkie, Still Being Molly, Lipgloss & Crayons

Friday Fab Faves #27

Another fantastic Friday!!!

Today's FAB FAVES are a combo of a FAVE product and FAB system!

#1 - The Product

(source)

#2 - The System

I feel sometimes that my kids are always going for a new cup to get another drink of water or milk.  Over the years I haven't really done much about the excess number of cups being used.  Probably because we have smaller cups that the kids use and I just tend to keep loading and unloading the DW without much thought.  Well...not the case anymore!

Get ready Tyree family, I'm going to implement mission water bottle around here!  I want to minimize the stacks of cups by my kitchen sink.  I want to reclaim my counters!

The fix is really easy peezy.  We each have our own colored water bottle, from Nathan Sports.  So I am going to implement a system where we each use our water bottles for our afternoon thirst sessions. That way we will just be using cups at breakfast and dinner time.  

I think it will go over well, don't you?  I even bought a lemon today at the store to make the water taste better.  Cause I don't know about you, but I don't think my kids get enough water in each day, so this will also help with that!

Hoping you have a FABULOUS weekend!!!

Praying for your Spouse

When we moved to Portugal this year, I joined our Womens Bible Study at church.  I jumped in when they were going to start reading a new book called "The Power of a Praying Wife."*  I actually read this book many years ago, but reading it again now feels like part of God's perfect timing.

I have kept up on the weekly reading, have read the prayers (sometimes even out loud), and even offered to host the study.  Those are the parts that have come easy to me.  For me anything that requires a check is a relatively easy thing to accomplish.  I call them the "checklist box things."  In other words all of the things that don't come at much of a cost to me.

But what I haven't done is actually gotten down on my knees and really prayed to the Lord about my husband.  Lord, knows I am very quick to roll my eyes or sigh, but how often do I just stop and pray for him.  Asking God to cover him, protect him, guide him, lead him....

I host the study again tomorrow and I am re-committing to not only reading the book but taking the next step to create a new habit.  I would love to be a wife that prayed more often, and that praying would be my first response in times of joy and in times of trials.  I think there is a time for popcorn prayers and a time for heartfelt on your knees in humble submission to God.  He hears them all.

How do you make prayer a priority?  Where or when is your favorite time to pray?



*You can find the book at Stormie Omartian's site and she also has "The Power of a Praying Husband."


Linked with...
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Cornerstone Confessions