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!

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**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. **

Countdown to Christmas with Balsam Hill

Today I'm partnering with Balsam Hill for their Countdown to Christmas series. If you are visiting from Our Southern Home...Welcome! So glad you are here!

I am joining 23 other bloggers in counting down to Christmas as well as offering 25 lucky readers a $100 gift card to Balsam Hill. You can enter Here! 

Can you all believe that Christmas is in 19 days? It looks a bit different for us this year. Since the twins have been born, I have realized that this mama can't do it all. So we are really trying to simplify and enjoy this season without having to deck the halls to a "T" or bake excessive amounts of cookies. We are slowing down and soaking up the magic in these babies' eyes.

DIY Felt Tree

Christmas to me this year is spending time with the people that I love. As we have seen in the news most recently, life is precious so why not spend every moment with family and friends that mean so much to us!? I absolutely love this Advent Calendar from Balsam Hill and can't wait to make this our family tradition in the years to come. Placing activities for the kids to do each day will make this season even more meaningful. 

One tradition that I just can't seem to give up is decorating a tree with my collected vintage ornaments. I have so many fond memories that are attached to these ornaments.

We aren't throwing a party this year, but I just had to set the table in case you all want to come over! You know I love a good table setting and using my grandmother's china takes me back in time to sitting at this exact table in my grandparent's dining room on Christmas Eve.

I hope you all will take a few moments to slow down and really feel the meaning of Christmas this year. 

Tell me....what are some of your favorite family traditions? I need to pile some ideas away for the years to come. 

Make sure to visit Robin at All things Heart and Home tomorrow for more inspiration.

**Don't forget to enter the $100 giveaway! Enter HERE.***

**A Huge Thank You to Balsam Hill for the Embroidered Advent Calendar! We will enjoy this with our family for many years to come. All opinions and photographs are mine.**

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!

source

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

source

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

New Artist Crush {+Giveaway}

A couple of weeks ago I shared my plans for the twin's nursery. I wanted a space that was not so babyish and something that they could grow into. I love finding artists that really influence the design of a specific space. Well...Ricardo Solis is one of those artists. He helped me capture what I wanted in the design of our nursery. Below are the two prints that have arrived for the nursery! The flamingo will go above baby girl's crib and the zebra above baby boy's crib.

I absolutely love the playfulness of these paintings. There is something to be said for a child's imagination and I feel that these evoke that image so well. They all tell a certain story.

Here are a few more of my favorites:

the big monument

Creating the Corocoro

creation of the giraffe

poisonous color

I love that these don't necessarily have to be for kids spaces. They would be neat in a den or family room where the pictures would be fabulous story starters for your guests!

Now the fun part.....
Ricardo is giving away one 11x14 print of choice to ONE lucky winner!! All you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter below. Visit Ricardo Solis's site and let me know which print you would like to win. There are extra entries if you follow on Facebook & Twitter.

Winner will be announced next Monday, February 9th. Good Luck!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Outdoor Dinner for Two (+ A Giveaway)

We have had some unbelievable weather here in NC over the past week. The humidity has been minimal and the bugs have seemed to disappear. So I decided that it was time to move our dinners back out on the patio. And because today is International Can-It-Forward Day, I used some of the limited addition ball jars last evening to help me create a romantic yet relaxed dinner for two.

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 starting at 10:00am EST.

• Schedule of events:
• 10:00am - Pepper Jelly demonstration by Chef Sara featuring the FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker
• 10:45am - Tips on urban gardening & herb preservation
• 11:00am - Peach Siracha Jam demonstration by Marisa McClellan of Food in Jars
• 11:30am - Crafting in Ball jars with staff from Martha Stewart Living
• 11:45am - Hugh Acheson Preserving and Mixology demonstrations
• 1:15pm - Special Mixology demonstration with local mixologists
• 1:30pm - Salsa Verde demonstration by Chef Sarah featuring the FreshTECH Automatic Home Canning System

That's Not All my friends! Ball is also giving ONE of my lucky readers all the goodies you see below! I am so in love with my green ball jars and can't wait to start using them more around the house. I also can't wait to try out their new herb products like the Fresh Herb Keeper and Herb Scissors. Who knew they created more than just jars!?

What you will win:

1. 1 case (6) of Quart Sized Vintage Style Spring Green Ball Jars

2. 1 case (6) of Pint Sized Vintage Style Spring Green Ball Jars

3. 1- Five Blade Herb Scissors

4. 1 box (4) Dry Herb Jars with Lids

5. 1 Fresh Herb Keeper

6. 1 box (2) Frozen Herb Starters

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. **

Royal Design Studio Stencil {Giveaway}

You all know how much I love my new stenciled nursery closet courtesy of Royal Designs. It is truly amazing how far stencils have come over the past few years. I am in love with using stencils as an accent wall, adding a little pop to drapes, pillows or even furniture.

Below are some of my favorites from Royal Designs that I think might just get you all motivated for a fun project!

Fly Away with me Stencil

Project by: Brittany Makes

Contempo Trellis Wall Stencil 

Project by Living Savvy

Small Polka dot party stencil 

Project by: Polka dot chair

Camel Bone Weave Stencil

Project By: Burlap & Lace

African Plumes Furniture Stencil

Cheetah Spots Wall Stencil

Project by: The Hunted Interior

AND NOW.... THE GIVEAWAY!!

**Royal Designs is giving one lucky reader $50 toward any one stencil of their choice plus FREE shipping (within the continental U.S.)!!**

All you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter below to enter! Giveaway will be open for one week & winner will be announced on Friday 5/16!
Good Luck All!!


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My Weekend

Did you all survive the hour less of sleep this weekend? I felt great yesterday, but seem to be dragging a bit today...hence the late post!

I really had a nice weekend and enjoyed getting a few things accomplished and spent some much needed time with my family.

I was able to check up on the flip house this weekend. (before pics Here) Most of the rooms have been primed and painted. You can see our cabinets are drying in the living room at the moment.

We also met with the flooring guy and granite guy. Hoping to finish making some decisions on both of those this week!

I got myself out of bed bright and early for a warehouse sale in North Raleigh on Saturday. If you live in the area and are looking for some one of a kind vintage pieces, you need to visit my friend Emily! She is the master of hunting for amazing finds at auctions! I had been eyeing a certain dresser Emily had posted on her FB page last week (not the one I talked about here). There was a lot of interest, so I knew I had to be there before they opened. I was the first one in the door and was able to grab my loot! That never happens. Usually the items I want are gone before I get there.

This beauty came home with me and I can't wait to share with you my plans for her!

I also picked up this fantastic crystal and gold candy jar. I just "had" to have her.

Here are some more of Emily's fantastic items that were in her shop:

Fabulous glam lamps, a great chair to upholster in your own style & a pair of vintage gazelle bookends!

Neat mid-century clock, another chair with great lines & beautiful mirrors in all shapes & sizes!

Saturday night was family time. We spent the evening at my brother's house hanging with my neice an nephew. They are getting so big and are such great kids.
I found these two sitting and chatting on the front porch...what a priceless pictures!

My dad and My nephew

This girl loves her Uncle John. She can do no wrong in his eyes. We are in trouble if we adopt a girl!

The Hubs & My niece 

To end our weekend and begin our week, we are looking at this view for a couple of days:

Working from home has its perks, but we needed to get out of the house and work seaside this week. It is going to be 70 degrees here today and you bet that when I am done writing this post and finished putting bids in on some new flip homes, I will be soaking up the rays.

Hope you have a delightful start to your week!


P.S. Don't forget there are only 3 more days left to enter the Arrow & Sage Giveaway!