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Wednesday, June 21, 2017

What should I do in our sunroom?!?!

Happy first day of summer!  We have been working a lot on the exterior of our house and I can't wait to show y'all our progress.  If you follow me on Instagram then you know that while loading mulch into my car I accidentally threw a SNAKE in my car!  It was terrifying!!  I am thankful that someone was close by to get it out and it was supposedly just a gardener snake {and only 10 inches long}.  

After finishing our front room makeover I feel like our sunroom looks worse.  Am I the only one that does that?  You decorate one room then feel like the other rooms are just blah.  If you are new around here, our sunroom has come a long way...


Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Patriotic M&M Cookie Cake


Y'all, I had to throw this cake in the trash...  We had way too much left at our house and I was the only one eating it.  Does that make me terrible?  I kept cutting a little sliver every 15 minutes yesterday and finally I decided it HAD to go!  I'm probably the only person that has ever done that.  My swimsuit will thank me for it.  ;)

Sunday, June 11, 2017

My Latest Obsessions from Trader Joes

Happy Monday!  Tall Tan Man and I just had a wonderful {baby free} weekend in the mountains.  Two words, hot coffee!  If you missed my Insta story from last week I had quiet the "incident" at Trader Joe's.  Let's just say shorts + melted chocolate + public place = embarrassment.  If you know me I am a big time optimist, so I am really hoping that no one noticed the brown substance smeared on my thighs...  

Anyone else ever had that happen to them?  anyone? anyone?  

I digress, even with my "incident" I don't think I could stay away from Trader Joe's.  This is the second closest grocery store to our house and it is next door to Starbucks and Homegoods.  I AM TOO WEAK TO STAY AWAY!  

Allrightythen... 

Lately we have been stuck in a meal rut...  Does that ever happen to you?  Looking in the frig is like looking in my closest, I don't like any of this!!!  Here are just a couple things that are making my daily life easier.  




First off, BREAKFAST!  This is definitely our favorite meal of the day.  I think if Mack could talk he would also agree with me on that.  We are pretty regular egg eaters and I think TJ's eggs not only taste great but are also priced great.  Same thing with their Turkey Bacon, awesome price compared to our regular grocery store!  On days we don't do eggs I love this frozen oatmeal because it is fast and not too high in sugar.  Mack loves those pancakes and so do i... Lastly, well, coffee is coffee and during the summer I'm all about iced coffee.  :)



Does anyone else struggle with lunch?? I feel like I scrounge something together then finish Mack's food.  I decided I need a change and picked up this southwest chopped salad.  SO SO SO GOOD!  I usually have Tall Tan Man grill extra chicken on the weekend for me to put on this.  The salad dressing that comes with this is super yummy but if I am trying to be extra healthy I just use salsa or this balsamic vinaigrette.  Have you every heard of mini cucumbers?  I hadn't but they are the perfect size for me to slice up one and Mack also likes them.  



Oh dinner, how I love to just order pizza or pei wei...  I am trying to be better about not picking up takeout during the week.  This Kung Pao Chicken is so yummy and SPICY.  Which I love.  I usually just serve it with rice.  The fire roasted peppers and onions make fajita/taco night so much easier and I love the flavor of them.  The only problem I have had with them is when I have forgotten to make them...  #mombrain Lastly, I've got to be real honest with y'all, I just bought the Turkey Bolognese.  I am actually making it for dinner tonight.  I'll let you know how it is!



I swear the testing station at Trader Joe's MAKES ME make bad decisions.  Those chocolate chip cookies are UNREAL.  Especially if they are paired with ice cream.  You should definitely not buy them right before a beach vacation...  I can drink this lemonade like water in the summer and Mack loves those mini cheese sandwiches.  They have to be good for him because they are organic, right?!



Last thing I wanted to share was their cards.  I bet you were thinking I would talk about their flowers... but by now I think everyone knows how awesome their flowers are.  All of their cards are $.99 which is waaaaaaaaay cheaper than paying $4.99 for a card that will most likely be thrown out after a couple weeks.  And they are so pretty!  

What are some of your Trader Joe's staples?  I'd love the hear them! 

{Leslie}

Thursday, June 8, 2017

'Merica Round Up

Hi y'all!  It is hard to believe that summer is already here.  I feel like it was just Christmas...  I think this is how it goes when you have a toddler.  Mack wears me out daily!  Why does he have no fear, as well as the ability to climb now?!  When Tall Tan Man gets home from work everyday I feel like I have to give him an injury report.  Is this normal?  Do I need to wrap him in bubble wrap?  Where did these grey hairs come from?  

deep breaths...

Ok, I feel better now.  :)  If you have followed my blog for a while then you know that DIYs and desserts are my favorite things.  I went ahead to did a round up of some of my favorite 'Merica projects/desserts that I have created and spotted from some awesome bloggers.  

Decor Ideas!
                   



If this Patriotic Wreath doesn't make you think of watermelon and grilled corn, I don't think we can be friends.  





How awesome is this Flag Backdrop  from Laughing Latte?!  This is so creative and I know the perfect spot in our backyard for it.  




I have been wanting to make these American Flag Mason Jars for years.  Maybe this will be the year!

Sweets!




No oven required for these Dipped Lemon Oreos!




This is by far my favorite cookie recipe.  I promise these Red Velvet Cookies won't dissapoint!


These Patriotic M&M Oat Bars melt in your mouth and on your hand.  Go ahead lick off that yummy chocolate! 


For my friends that struggle in the kitchen....All American Jars



Oh my goodness, all the heart eyes for this Firecracker Cake from Love Bakes Good Cakes.  I love how she did the icing!  I think you could do this same look on any bundt cake.


I am really lucky I don't have any of these desserts in my house right now, because I am feel quiet emotional about my beloved Oklahoma Football Coach, Bob Stoops, retiring.  If you see me, give me a hug, I need it!  



{Leslie}

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Refinishing Applaro Outdoor Furniture


If you don't own the Ikea Applaro furniture you might just want to skip this post!  If you do then you might have experienced my same frustration when your furniture started to chip after only one year.  This is totally my fault, we do not have a covered patio and I still bought a wood table.  I promise I did some research about the table and read that it holds up great.  Liars... JK, the OLD version of the table ages really nicely but the new way they apply the stain doesn't hold up as well.  See exhibit a:


The stain was flaking off which was weird to me... I thought stain would just fade.  After a couple BBQs at our house I decided I was too embarrassed to leave the table as is.  I was able to refinish the table and I am proud to say we are going on 2 years of it looking good!


The table is a little more golden then it use to be but I think it matches just fine.  I only refinished the very top of the table and left the stain everywhere else the same.  Recently, I snagged another piece of the Applaro furniture off Craigslist for $20.


I am fairly confident after seeing that picture I won't be getting any foot modeling gigs....

This is a storage bench that I plan on using as a coffee table to our adirondack chairs. This was on someone's covered apartment patio and it still started to flake.  Thankfully this update takes almost no time and holds up!  The first step was to sand the bench with my palm sander using 120 grit sandpaper.  This went so fast, Mack didn't even get a chance to start crying.  #momoftheyear


Then I used this stain from Home Depot.


I waited a full 24 hours then sprayed the piece with this sealer.


Annnnnnnnd that's it!


Will someone please come water my plants for me?  I'll pay you with cookies and baby hugs!!  In typical Leslie fashion, I am ready to paint the Adirondack chairs a different color.  They have only been turquoise for 2 years....  I'm thinking navy, white or grey.  I have fully jumped on the neutral bandwagon train.  Ridding my house of all color.  Except my Tall TAN Man.  xx


{Leslie}

Monday, June 5, 2017

The Easiest Summer Dessert: All American Jars


Woooo hoooo it finally feels like summer outside and that means backyard BBQs!  Tall Tan Man and I love to grill out!  I know BBQs should be all about what is coming off the grill but I personally think it is all about the dessert.  I am going to thank my sweet Momma for that thinking.  These All American Jars are so stinkin' easy and don't take a lot of planning.  Homemade desserts are usually how I roll, but when you can take something store-bought and make it look homemade, that's a win!  Fake it 'til you make it, baby!



All American Jars

Ingredients:

Pound Cake {usually found in the produce section}
Frozen Cool Whip, Thawed 
Chopped Strawberries & Blueberries
6-8 pint ball jars

Directions:

1.  Cut the pound cake into 1 inch cubes.  

2.  Add a handful of pound cake to the bottom of each jar.  Next add a layer of cool whip and fruit.  Repeat once more.  Use the back of a spoon to press everything down as you go.  




I love a good recipe especially when it only has 2 steps!  When I make these again I am going to add more fruit and cool whip so the jars are more full.  No one wants empty spaces in their dessert!! If you missed {my last post} I am giving away a letter board on FRIDAY!   Stop by my {Instagram} to enter to win!



{Leslie}

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Updating my Letter Board + Giveaway


Hi!!! Oh my word.  Sorry for being MIA... sometimes I just need naps during nap time.  Can I get an amen?!  And no, I don't believe I'm pregnant.  I have been wanting a Letter Folk letter board for about a year now and there was no way I was going to spend $100+ on one.  Last week people on Insta started sharing the boards they found at Walmart for $10!!! Yep, TEN DOLLARS!  I was able to score 3 of them because I just knew I would find a need for all 3.  The first one went as a graduation gift, because I thought it would be so cute in a dorm room.  Who knows if kids these days think these are as cute as us 30 somethings.  

I decided I loved the board but I wanted it to fit my decor more.  I felt like the white frame need to be something more substantial.  


I removed the frame and got Tall Tan Man to build me a frame.  Thanks honey!  xx



Next I stained the wood with a 50/50 combo of Weather Oak and Dark Walnut... Voila! 


You read it right!  It is your lucky day, I'm giving the third board away!  I'm going to let you pick if you want the original frame or a stained frame.  All you have to do is follow the directions on the {Instagram} post.  The giveaway will go from Friday {June 2} until Thursday {June 8}.  I'll Make the annoucment next FRIDAY!!! 


Alright y'all, I hope that more people enter than just my Mom and my best friends... but I do think this would look cute in my Mom's kitchen.  ;)

{Leslie}
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