Cool Treat for Hot Summer Days (& A Giveaway)

I don't know about you, but we are having a major heat wave in NC this week. I have been trying to keep the twins entertained indoors, but we are getting a little stir crazy over here. I was given the opportunity to try out the new Ball book of Canning & Preserving and found an amazing recipe that combines the twin's two favorite summer fruits...Watermelon and Blackberries. They of course loved it and were signing "more".

And...because today is International Can It Forward Day I used a couple of my jars to serve the Watermelon-Blackberry Granita.

If you love canning, mason jar crafts, gifts or decorating with these beauties you can follow Ball  for giveaways and LIVE demonstrations going on throughout the day. You can see that all happening HERE (Facebook Live) starting at 10:00am EST. 
*Also, if you participate by asking questions, liking a recipe or make a pledge, a $1 donation will be made to charity. So it's a #winwin for all! 
*Have a question!? Use Twitter with hashtag #canitforward from 10am-5pm ET on July 22nd.  

That's Not All my friends! Ball is also giving ONE of my lucky readers the amazing goodies below!! 

 The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving: From the makers of the iconic Ball® jars and Ball® canning products comes the first truly comprehensive canning guide created for today's home cooks. This modern handbook boasts more than 200 brand new recipes ranging from jams and jellies to pickles, salsas, and more. (Retail value: $22.95)

Case of Collection Elite Wide Mouth Pint Jars: For the first time, the Ball® brand has introduced a line of never-before released blue colored jars.  (Retail value: $8.99/case)

One $5 off coupon to be used on FreshPreservingStore.com

Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter! (U.S. Residents Only Please) Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


**A HUGE Thank you to Ball Jars for sending the above products for review and giveaway. As always all of the opinions are mine and only mine. **

7 Fall {DIYs & Recipes} I'd Like to Try

Hi all! Hope you are enjoying your fall. The weather is really changing here in NC and I have been in the mood for salted caramel mocha's and pumpkin pie! The fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons.

On my free time (haha) I have been scouring the web and finding some really neat fall DIYs that I would love to try. Not sure I will have time this fall or not, but I am definitely saving these ideas on my Fall pinterest board for next year.

1. DIY Plaid Pumpkin
My girl Courtney is the queen of plaid and she has recently created this adorable plaid pumpkin vase for fall! How adorable is this? Or if you have no use for a vase, you could just create a plain plaid pumpkin and add to your Halloween or Thanksgiving decor.

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2. Apple Cider Sidecar Cocktail

Let's be honest, this mama could use a cocktail and this one is calling my name! Might be mixing this sweet drink this coming weekend.

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3. Orange Gingerbread Sugar Scrub Cubes

Don't these look fun!? I am thinking I need to call all my girlfriends and have a girls night in just to make these little guys. Maybe a fall party will be in my near future. 

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4. Fall Printable (Free Download)
This saying is so me! I love my tea and for some reason the fall makes me want to cozy up and read something new and exciting. This printable also comes in black with white writing for all of you chalkboard lovers.

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5. Fall Apple Cheeseballs

How adorable are these? Like so so cute. If you know me at all...anything cheese is perfection!

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6. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Can you all see a recurring theme around here? Yes I love fall and yes I am hungry! I love this sweet printable recipe card from Jones Design Company. Have you signed up for their free printable archive?

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7. Candy Corn Chocolate Bark

Are you a candy corn fan? You are either all in or absolutely hate the candy. There are no gray areas for candy corn. I actually love it until I get sores on my tongue from eating too many...then I despise the stuff! Maybe making them into bark would help me from eating too much (maybe). 

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What do you all crave in the fall? Anything I NEED to know about?

Have a wonderful weekend friends! 

Easy Pumpkin Decorating {& GIVEAWAY}

Well it's no secret that everything around here has to be quick and easy these days. So when I saw this adorable photo from a blogging friend on Instagram, I had to share it with all of you!

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How cute are these gold vinyl dots? And....how seriously chic and easy would these be for your fall decorating?

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I also love the idea of the vinyl monogram and how reusing these in different ways around the house would be amazing! 

If you aren't following my sweet friend Leen the Graphics Queen, then you are missing out on some fabulous ideas for your home! I really need this Welcome Sign in my life and how adorable are these stars and dots in this little girls room?

Leen is the women! You can custom order pretty much anything in any color...and she is SO reasonable. 

Are you all ready to win some Gold Dot Decals? Hope So. One of you lucky readers will win a sheet of these different size dots just in time for Fall decorating!

Follow the rafflecopter below. One winner will be announced Monday 10/19 . Good Luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our New DIY Industrial Coffee Table

This post is a long time coming. I started this project with my brother and dad a few months ago and we finally finished before the holidays. I just haven't made time to take pictures and share with all of you. Some of you might remember that a coffee table was one of my 2014 Home Goals. We did finish in 2014..so I am making that count!

We have been living without a coffee table for our entire marriage. That is almost 10 years people! I really liked having an open space in front of our couch, but never realized what I was missing until this beauty came along.

Now we have a place for our drinks, snacks, feet....whatever! This table is so sturdy that we can literally stand on it to change a light bulb or dance the night away without worrying about the damage our hefty selves might cause.

My brother built the wood top out of reclaimed wood from an old pub in downtown Raleigh. He planed the wood and sanded it down to create a smooth surface.

My dad and I designed the metal base and welded the pieces together with heavy duty steel. I am working on a tutorial to share with all of you over the next couple of weeks. So stay tuned!

I added a few coats of clear polyurethane to bring out the color and knots in the wood and to give it a durable surface with no worries of water stains. I also sprayed the metal with a clear coating to protect it from rusting in our humid NC weather.

I absolutely love how the table came out. It really gives our living space some texture and life. I love combining different styles to create a space that I want to spend my time in.
So much meaning and hard work went into this piece. I can't wait to have it in the family for many many years. A HUGE thank you to my talented brother and father for helping me create a memorable piece. I loved spending time working on this with both of you!

Last Minute Valentine's Ideas

Well hello! I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Who knew all the appointments, classes and tours that come with expecting babies!? Not me...obviously. I told my husband it is like having another full time job just keeping up with appointments. Y'all never warned me!

Well I am back today to talk Valentine's Day. My mom always made Valentine's Day special. She still makes a pot roast and her most delicious heart bread to this day. We will be gathering with family on Saturday night to celebrate.

Last year I hosted a Valentine's Tea for all of my sweet friends. You can see the details Here. I so wanted to do that again this year, but really at 28 weeks pregnant... I don't have the energy. So I have been searching some fun last minute ideas to share with all of you instead!


1. Peanut Butter Cup Rice Crispy Treats
Of course I had to start with something yummy! I think I might have to make this tomorrow and I can guarantee I will be eating half of the recipe myself! Stop on over to Inspired by Charm for the details!

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2. Free Printables:  Valentines Cards & Envelopes
These are absolutely adorable. I love that they can be interchanged and feel more personal than buying a card from the store. Plus they save big money! Have you noticed how expensive cards are now a days? Download this full set Here.

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3. 52 Reasons I Love You

What a fun and inexpensive gift idea! You could create this for your significant other or for your child. I started working on this one for the Hubs. We will see if I can finish it in time. All you need is a deck of cards, a hole punch and a ring clasp (which you can find at staples). You can either type the words or write them with a sharpie. Tutorial Here. 

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4. DIY XOXO Table Cloth or Runner

What a fabulous idea! If you are staying in for Valentine's Day this year or just want to make breakfast extra special for the kids, why not create your own table cloth or runner. It doesn't have to be expensive. Use an old sheet or left over fabric laying around the house. Add some black paint and presto......

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5. Donut Hole Breakfast Skewers

These would be so easy and so much fun for kids. And...the fruit counteracts the donuts...right?

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Also...do you need a little help on what to wear for Valentine's Day? My friend Megan put together two great outfits that are casual enough for a stay at home party or a night out at a friend's house. You can check out the sources here. If I wasn't preggo I would be buying that adorable Red Cami! And how comfy does that heart sweater and boyfriend jean combo look?

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So what are you all up to for Valentines this year? I am thinking we are going to celebrate tomorrow night and try to avoid some of the crazy crowds. Or...we are going to order pizza in with a movie. That actually sounds so delightful! 

XOXO

{DIY} Fold Over Clutch

Happy Monday! Did this weekend fly by or what? The Hubs and I got some much needed tossing and organizing done. Can you tell I am starting my nesting process? Yep...time to get rid of "stuff"!

Today I wanted to pop in and share a fun DIY that my mother-in law and I made last week while she was visiting. I had a vision in my head for a while and with my mother-in law's sewing talent, we created this easy fold over clutch within a couple of hours.

I love how we added a little unexpected pop of color within the inside...

And of course I had to add a fun gold zipper....

For the Full tutorial on how to make these little leather bottom fold overs, hop on over to my Mother-in law's blog Barbara Huber Designs! Make sure you say hello from Eat.Sleep.Decorate!

A Look back at 2014 {Top 10 Posts} According to you

Well hello and Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. It was great to put most technology away for a couple of weeks and focus on time with family and friends. I am anxious for this new year and what it will bring. I always love a fresh start...don't you?

Today we are taking a walk down memory lane. This past year has been full of ups and downs, but without your support of this little blog I wouldn't be doing what I love. Even though I didn't crank out as many posts as previous years, there were still quite a few that were memorable.

Below are the top 10 posts of 2014...according to all of you!

10. A "Spotted" Nursery Closet- I love this sweet little closet and now that we only have a little less than 4 months to meet our babies, I am so glad I finished this when I did! Can't wait to share more ideas and nursery projects with you all this year! Let's just say that there are TWO little cribs set up in the nursery and I can't help but stop and peek in from time to time.

9. Adding Character to your home {Furniture in the Bathroom}- This post was full of great inspiration when trying to add a bit of character to a bathroom. I love the idea of adding a vintage or industrial piece for that unexpected look. 

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8. Outdoor Dinner for Two- I enjoyed created this little dinner for two on our patio this summer using the limited edition green Ball Jars. Using what I had and nature around me made for a romantic summer evening. 

7. Top Design Mistakes {Rug Sizes}- This post is also full of inspiration and ideas on what to do and not to do when it comes to adding rugs to your space. 

6. DIY Colorful Fruit Umbrellas- I got my craft on and created these adorable umbrellas using Scotch Blue Painter's tape. It would be a fun project to do with your kids! Pick a favorite fruit and create!

5. How to Decorate & Style Shelves- I find that built-ins and coffee tables can be a bit tricky to style. In this post I gave you some ideas on how to use what you have around the house to decorate and style your shelves in 7 steps!

4. Master Closet Organization- I was determined this year to get our master closet in order and I actually accomplished what I was set out to do! Our closet was a walk in, but a very small walk in. And with babies on the way we had to move some of our dress clothes and other storage items that were stored in the guest room, into our closet. So I shared some great tips on how to organize a small closet without spending an arm and a leg! See for yourself....

3. Master Bathroom Updates {Painted Vanity}- After living with our builder grade bathroom for 6 years, we decided to make some changes. We added some color to the vanity using Sherwin Williams- Urban Bronze and lightened the walls using Sherwin William's- Shoji White. We added an oriental rug and some new artwork. Even though we still have a bit to go in 2015, I am liking the new and fresh updates!

2. Flip House #5 {Before & After}- We completed our 5th flip home this past spring. It is always fun to look back on the homes that we buy and sell to see how far we have come. We are hoping to add at least 3 more flips this year....so stay tuned for updates as we move along. To see all of our flip homes click HERE.

1. Keeping Organized in the New Year- This was the top post in 2014! I guess many of you like to get your organization on. Well this post has plenty of ideas including some free printable labels, organization tips that you can complete in 5-10 minutes and some of my "go-to" organizational items that I use over and over.

So there you have it! Thanks for following along in 2014! I am excited to see what 2015 has in store for this blog.

Do you have any suggestions or posts that you would like to see more of from Eat.Sleep.Decorate? Any blogging series that might peek reader's interests? I am open for suggestions.

Tomorrow I will be back to share my 2015 House Goals. Happy Monday!

Last Minute Christmas Cards + 60% OFF today only!

Welcome to Monday! With only 10 days left till Christmas I am sure most of you are busy getting ready for guests, wrapping presents and maybe even doing some last minute shopping. I am happy to say that I am finished with shopping and plan on taking some time to wrap gifts in the evenings this week.

One thing that I was WAY behind on this year were my Christmas cards. And...from the look of my card holder, most of my friends are too! hehe

I usually have my cards ordered by the first week of December and have them addressed and out the door two weeks before Christmas. Well life happens as we all know, and I just ordered mine yesterday! Yikes! I am hoping they will be here this week so at least I can get them out the door by the weekend.

As I was looking around the usual sites that I have order from....Minted, Tinyprints, Shutterfly...I noticed that they had absolutely wonderful cards, but the prices were mighty high for the last minute card maker like me! I was going to end up paying around $150-$175 when all was said and done. With two babies on the way I knew that the Hubs would throw a fit at that price. So....I shopped around and found Snapfish. They had similar cards, but had/have a deal going on for 60% OFF plus free shipping! (CODE: PEACE60)

Here is a little sneak peek of our card...

I was happy with how it turned out, especially for a last minute thought. There was even room on the backside for another picture and a place to write a bit about our year for no extra charge. 

Thanks to my dad who came over and took some great pictures of us in our backyard last week! Love using talented family members to get things done. 

Here are a few of our outtakes & unedited pictures from the photoshoot....

We sure have a good time together and he was a good sport about my Merry Christmas sign. He didn't know where to put his hands and thought the idea was crazy, so we cracked up about it but, got at least one good one for the card! Oh the simple things that keep us laughing.

Tell me...are your cards already in the mail? If you are a procrastinator like me, you can check out all the sites I listed above and here are a few deals going on this week:

SnapFish: 60% off Holiday Cards (CODE: PEACE60) **Only through tonight, Dec. 15th!***

TinyPrints: Up to 30% off and 25% off no min (CODE: 30SWDEAL) Free Shipping on $49+ (CODE: FREESHIP49) ***This Runs through Dec. 16th***

Shutterfly: Save up to 40% off Cards and Free Shipping on $49+ ***Runs through today Dec. 15th***



By the way...I was not compensated for this post in anyway. Just thought some of you could benefit from my lack of organization! Enjoy! :)