Easy Lemon Cake Batter Bars
These lemon cake batter bars bring a refreshing twist to an old favorite. Using lemon cake mix plus basic baking ingredients may be the easiest lemon bars you’ve ever made! I’m sure
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Science Experiment Valentine
The perfect Valentine for your science loving kids is simple to put together and tons of fun for your child’s classmates and their families. Carter’s school has a no-candy Valentine rule, and
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Non-Candy Valentines – Free Printables!
Whether it’s part of your school’s Valentine’s party policy or just a fun alternative, check out these creative ideas for non-candy Valentine’s. All of them have free printables! I’m not sure how
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Nerf Battle Blinds: How to Paint Camouflage
These camouflage blinds were perfect for my son’s Nerf Battle birthday party. Use the easy spray painting technique to create camouflage designs on almost any surface. It’s hard to believe it’s already
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Roasted Cauliflower
Food July 7, 2017 Roasting vegetables takes them to another level, and once you try roasted cauliflower you likely won’t ever make cauliflower any other way! Cauliflower has never been on the
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Paper Plate Marble Mazes
If you’re looking for an easy kids craft that uses their STEM skills and endless possibilities, paper plate marble mazes are the perfect activity! Carter just finished 2nd grade last week and
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My Friday Five – Hello, It’s Me
Long time no see! It’s been a busy few months and I had to check out of blogging for a while. I have a few new posts kicking around in my brain,
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My Friday Five – Catching Up!
Well Heeeellllllllooooooo! Long time no post. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA for a little while. I’ve got lots of posts in my head these days just other things preoccupying my time instead of
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10 Things to Do on an Airplane
Chances are if you’re packing for a flight, you’re not only thinking about what to put in your suitcase but also what to pack for in-flight entertainment. Regardless of the flight time, it
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10 Easy and Healthy Snacks
If you’re looking to add healthy snacks into your diet, these ten easy snacks help you incorporate more protein to keep you satisfied longer and not over-indulge. I’ve admitted several times in
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My Friday Five – New Year, New Faves
Happy first Friday of 2017! Was this the longest short week ever or what?! While I enjoy my job, and I even worked a few days last week, it was a challenge
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Best of 2016 – 4 Year Blogiversary!
It’s hard to believe that 4 years ago today I started Sometimes Homemade as a place to document my craft projects and DIY adventures! It’s fun each year on my blogiversary to look back
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My Friday Five – Holiday Happenings
Welcome to Friday! This week flew right on by and December is following suit. It’s been a busy few weeks with work travel and all sorts of holiday happenings. 1 | Winter
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Rosemary Garlic Buttermilk Biscuits
Buttermilk biscuits get a delicious update with fresh rosemary and a hint of garlic. They are a perfect side for your holiday meal plus they’re versatile and easy enough for a weeknight dinner!
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Painted Acorns for Easy Fall Decor
Bring fall indoors with these easy to make painted acorns. Put them in a fall themed bowl or scatter them around your Thanksgiving table for a natural fall accent. Better late than
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10 KitchenAid Mixer Tips
I’ve professed my love for my KitchenAid Mixer time and time again, and today is another one of those days. I just invested in my mixer a few years ago as a
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Halloween Fun
Happy day after Halloween! I’m already thinking I have to throw out our bucket of Halloween candy so that I don’t eat it all day long. #workfromhomeproblems Just a few pics to share our
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Pumpkin Cake Batter Blondies
If cake batter blondies and pumpkin bars had a baby, it would be these pumpkin cake batter blondies! The best of both worlds with the dense consistency of blondies and white chocolate
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My Friday Five – Favorite Fall Things + KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway
Happy Friday! Whooo… it’s been a week! Yesterday I thought it was Wednesday all day, and I could really use that extra day. I’ll still welcome the weekend with open arms. It’s
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All Time Favorite Pumpkin Spice Recipes
‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice everything. Here’s a list of my all time favorite pumpkin spice bars, muffins, cakes, donuts, and other goodies to help curb your pumpkin cravings. I don’t know
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The Ultimate Nerf Battle Birthday Party
A Nerf battle birthday party is the ultimate party theme for any Nerf gun loving kid. Get ideas for invitations, DIY activities, a Nerf war, and camouflage cupcakes. Last week we celebrated
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My Friday Five – Fall Forward
Hello! It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a Friday Five post. The summer got away from me a bit, just as the weeks seem to do too. Work has been
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Fall TV is Here! Better Things Giveaway
Fall is by far my favorite season. At least in the Midwest, it’s the best weather of the year, the re-introduction of cozy clothes, the start of college football season (Go Hawks!),
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How to Clean Garage Sale and Thrift Store Finds
Do you love garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets? Me too! Here’s a view of a few kitchen and glassware items I’ve found more recently that need some cleaning up. You can’t
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Red, White and Blue Cake Batter Blondies
Cake batter blondies made patriotic with red, white and blue sprinkles. This is one of the easiest bar recipes and a big hit no matter what color sprinkles you use! Mid-August may
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Sparkling Iced Tea and Lemonade
Combine the flavors of your favorite iced tea with a hint of sweet from lemonade and kick it up with light carbonation for your new favorite refreshing summer drink. One of
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How to Make a Caipirinha
Move over margarita and mojito, Brazil’s national drink, the caipirinha is about to be moved into my favorite south of the border summer drink. It’s a lot easier to make than it
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Top 5 Things to Do on a Girls Trip to Nashville
I almost titled this Top 5 Things To Do in Nashville if you’re over 40, but I wasn’t quite ready to have that up there big and bold. In all honesty, this
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My Friday Five
Oh hey Friday, you creeped up on me this week, but I’m happy to see you! Even though summer only officially started this week, I can’t believe that we’re almost to the
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Mason Jar Herb Garden
Herbs are easy to grow and if you’re looking to keep your crop small, mason jars make the perfect planter and can be used indoor or outdoor (with proper drainage). I know I’ve
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House Hunting: Expectations vs. Realities
As you start down the house buying process, there are a lot of give and takes when it comes to finding “the one”. This post has been sponsored by National Association of
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My Friday Five – School’s Out for Summer!
Lots of activity around here the last week! End of the school year, a work trip for me, a meeting with our realtor (it’s getting real people!) and as much outside time
Read MoreMy Friday Five – Unofficial Start to Summer
Happy Happy Friday! I cannot believe we’re already at the end of May and time for Memorial Day. School gets out next week and then we’ll have a 2nd grader, is even
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Best Yard Games for an Outdoor Party
If your summer plans entail hosting or attending any backyard bbq’s, picnics, family reunions or other outdoor parties, you need to stock up on some yard games that make any outdoor gathering
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25 Creative Wall Decals for Kids Rooms
Wall decals are a creative and easy way to change out the theme in your kids rooms. Plus, they’re removable and won’t damage the walls! I don’t know about your kids, but my
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Easy Redecorating Ideas – Big Impact!
Vinyl wall art can completely transform or act as that perfect accent to complete a room. It’s an easy redecorating idea that’s as simple as peel, stick, done! I’ve been in a bit
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My Friday Five – Mother’s Day Recap
Happy Friday the 13th! My grandpa was born on Friday, May 13th back in 1910, so I think good thoughts on this superstitious day. I hope all you moms out there had a nice Mother’s
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Top 10 Tips for Hosting a Garage Sale
Whether you call it a garage sale, yard sale or rummage sale, these sales are a great way to declutter your house and make a bit of cash in the process. I recently just
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Spicy Ranch Chicken Tacos
Is taco night a weekly occurrence in your house? If so, you may have to kick it up a notch with these spicy ranch chicken tacos. Make the chicken in your slow
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My Friday Five – Spring Catch Up
Happy Friday! It’s been a while since I’ve done a Friday Five post, so I thought I’d do one over some of our happenings over the last few weeks. 1 | Styling
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Make a Shade Loving Container Garden
You may have more plant options for a shade loving container garden than you think. Check out this recipe for a colorful pot in a shady spot. We have a bit of
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Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
These Salted Caramel Brownie Bites are sure to be the biggest hit at your next gathering. They’re the perfect one-bite treat, look impressive, and they’re so easy to make! I can’t believe it’s taken me
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Dutch Letter Bars
Jump to recipe What’s a Dutch Letter you say? It’s the best almond pasty that ever lived. Dutch Letter Bars are the next best thing. They bring all the decadent almond flavor into
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Pom Pom Yarn Flowers
While Spring has officially started, I’m not sure where it’s hiding. We went from mid 60’s to possible snow again this week. The flowers have just started to peek through the ground,
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My Friday Five: Spring Break
Welcome to Friday! This week was Spring Break for us. No major trips on our end this year, but we did manage to take a long weekend trip to Minneapolis, then Todd and
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St. Patrick’s Day “Luck is Going Your Way” T-Shirt
Whether you’re Irish or not, you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a custom made t-shirt that might even bring you a little luck. I made this one for my son, and
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My Friday Five: Antiques and Arts
How is it Friday already? This week has flown right on by. It’s one of those weeks where I’ll gladly welcome the weekend, but I could have used an extra day. The
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Dream Kitchen: Start with the Details
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kohler for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. This weekend I was on a quest at Home Depot to find tile
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My Friday Five: Travel Time
Happy Friday! I was traveling part of this week for work, and I’m currently sitting in the airport on a layover, ready to get home and see my guys. My trip was
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House Hunting: Must Haves vs. Nice to Haves
After 12+ years of living in our current house (our first house), we’re finally serious about looking for a new home. We recently sat down and talked about what items were on
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My Friday Five – My Loves
No matter how much I like what I do for a job, I’m always so happy to see Friday. Can I get an amen?! It’s nice to have a few days where
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Make Your Own Vintage Inspired Chalkboard Train Sign
This vintage inspired chalkboard train sign is made to look like it spent years in an old train depot with ever changing dates and times marking travel journeys. If you have a
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Valentine’s Day Pinterest Fails
Valentine’s Day – it’s the holiday for celebrating love through thoughtful treats, romantic dinners, class parties, and so many homemade gifts. It’s ripe for attempting things far beyond your abilities, with good intentions,
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My Friday Five: February Fun
Another week, another Friday! This week really flew by for us, kicking off with Super Bowl and ending with Valentine’s Day fun. 1 | Super Bowl of Dips – see what I
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Spicy Garlic Edamame
Great for a healthy snack or an appetizer, you’ll have a hard time sharing this spicy garlic edamame with anyone else! Plus, it’s so quick and easy to make. After a recent
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My Friday Five: So Long January
Happy Friday! It’s hard to believe January has already come and gone. Work has been steady, and I’m getting into a groove with my new job. We’re definitely back into our routines after
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Working from Home: Expectations vs Reality Revealed
I’ve mentioned a few times that I’ve recently started a new job. Not only was it a job and company change, but my new company is 100% virtual, meaning everyone in the company
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Glow in the Dark Bouncy Ball Valentine
Your kids will have a ball celebrating their friendship with classmates or neighborhood friends with these fun non-candy Valentines featuring inexpensive bouncy balls. Get the free printables! We’ve been doing non-candy Valentines the
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Spicy Smokehouse Almonds
Just the right combination of smoky and spicy, these smokehouse flavored almonds are a great healthy snack option which is anything but boring. Now that I’m working from home, it’s all too
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My Friday Five: Small Wins
Happy Friday! I’m officially in week 2 of my new job and working from home. So far so good! I’ll write a post soon on my work from home experiences. Let’s just
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My Friday Five: Ch-Ch-Changes
Happy New Year… a week late! I didn’t do many (or any) non project updates over the holidays here. I was really ready for a break and enjoyed time off from pretty
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Tips for Picking a Paint Color
There are a lot of potential mistakes you can make when choosing a paint color for a room redo or other project. Use these helpful tips for choosing the perfect paint color for your
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Be the Change! New Decade (for me) New Year, New Gig!
Happy New Year! Whether 2015 was filled with more ups or downs for you personally, I hope you were able to wrap it up with people you love and welcome 2016 with
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Christmas Pinterest Fails
The holidays are the season of crafting, baking and well-meaning creative adventures, inspired by thousands of shiny Pinterest projects gone right… but oh so many also go wrong. I remember one Christmas
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Best of 2015 – 3 Year Blogiversary!
Here we are again at the end of another year. It’s hard to believe Sometimes Homemade is 3 years old today! I had to cut back on both projects and writing a
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Sugar Cookie Bars
These sugar cookie bars are perfect if you love sugar cookies but don’t love all the work of traditional cut out cookies. One pan, no cookie cutters, plus they have sprinkles! I love
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Holiday Card Short Cuts
In this day of social media and regular sharing of pictures and life happenings, many people have decided to stop sending out holiday cards. I haven’t gotten to that point yet. I
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DIY Word Ornaments from Your Handwriting
Personalize your tree with these quick and easy to make 5-minute ornaments made from your handwriting and some glitter wire. Use seasonal words or your family names to create one of a
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My Friday Five – December Already?
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Friday Five post. November was pretty much a whirlwind with birthday celebrations, a few trips, and our busiest season at work. December has come
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Cookie Decorating Made Easy
Cookie decorating has never been easier with Color Me cookies and edible ink markers. These are perfect for kids birthday parties or holidays or other special events. Plus, no messy colored sugar sprinkles involved. (Sprinkles
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20+ Handmade Gifts Guys will Actually Like
While I love to give (and receive) handmade gifts, I know that not everyone appreciates them quite as much. Guys can be especially hard to please in the DIY gift department, but
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Upcycled Sweater Holiday Crafts
Before you throw out that sweater you no longer wear or no longer fits, consider upcycling it into these holiday crafts including a sweater pillow, Christmas tree or wine bottle holder. These
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Thanksgiving Pinterest Fails
Thanksgiving is upon us, which brings us the opportunity for well meaning crafters, bakers, moms and more to attempt themed projects, that at any moment can go awry, making way for Thanksgiving Pinterest
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BBQ Chicken and Bacon Totchos
If you’ve never tried Totchos (nachos made with tater tots), you’re going to want to try them smothered with bbq chicken, bacon and cheese. Makes a great appetizer or fun dinner. Comfort
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This is 40 – Celebrating in Austin, TX
The time has come (and gone). I celebrated turning 40 last week with a trip to Austin, TX with the hubs. We figured BBQ, Bands, and Craft Beer were the right combination
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Slow Cooker Bacon BBQ Chicken
This Slow Cooker Bacon BBQ Chicken is anything but basic, yet it’s easy to set and forget in your slow cooker for perfect bbq chicken you can use in a variety of
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My Friday Five – Favorite Skin Care Products
It’s hard to believe the time has come, but in less than a week, I’ll be turning the big 4-0. How did that happen!? I can’t lie and say genetics doesn’t play
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Halloween Pinterest Fails #PinterestFail
This year Halloween brought out some of the best in Pinterest Fails. I’ve had several epic fails in the crafting and baking department, so I can always appreciate someone else’s effort gone
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Shortbread Toffee Bars
Shortbread Toffee Bars are made using a simple shortbread recipe with decadent caramel, chocolate and toffee topping. They are rich, but you won’t be able to eat just one! Fall baking season
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My Friday Five – Fall in NYC
Happy Friday from NYC! I spent most of the week here for work this week. I was happy the weather was as amazing here as it was at home last weekend. Crisp fall
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My Friday Five – Football, Flannel, Fall Fun!
Hooray for Friday… another week gone by in a flash! 1 | Pumpkin Patch Fun – one of our favorite things to do each fall is visit a local pumpkin patch. This was
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My Friday Five – Here Comes 7!
Here we are in October and we’re still wavering between 60 and 80 degree temps here in Iowa. While mother nature is confused, I’m fully ready for fall – layered clothes, boots,
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Chocolate Swirled Pumpkin Bars
These chocolate swirled pumpkin bars are a perfect combination of pumpkin and chocolate, a nice alternative to the traditional pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. A month or so ago, I picked
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Treasure Hunting at The Picker Knows Antique Store
The Picker Knows antiques and collectibles store opened in my West Des Moines ‘hood recently. I spent an hour or so last weekend meandering through the aisles and booths checking out any potential
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My Friday Five – Fall TV is Here!
There are so many things I love about fall – dressing in layers, comfort food, the leaves changing, football games… and of course, the start of the new TV season! We binge watched
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My Friday Five – Celebrate Good Times!
Happy Friday! It was one of those weeks at work where I had put in more hours by Wed. to count for a full week, which included three different presentations, and hosting
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Salted Caramel Popcorn Mix
This salted caramel popcorn mix includes salted caramel, popcorn, chocolate, your favorite nuts and is perfect for tailgating, snack time or your wine down time. (yes, I meant wine down and not
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LG Front Loading Washing Machine – Easy Fix!
If your LG front loading washer will only start again after unplugging it and plugging it back in, try this easy fix before calling a repairman! Several months ago our only
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My Friday Five – Summer Endings
It was a whirlwind of a summer! Good times capped off by our recent vacation to Disney, an Ironman for my husband, and all sorts of other things thrown in between. School
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My Friday Five – Top 5 Walt Disney World Memories
If you follow regularly, you’ll know we just returned from our family vacation at Walt Disney World. This will be my last vacation post and then we’ll get back to regular craft
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Jedi Training Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Jedi Training Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a great experience. Check out these tips on getting your child signed up and know what to expect before you go. One of
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Top 10 Tips from a Disney World First Timer
We just returned from our first time at Disney World, while we did some advance prep and planning, we chose not to schedule out everything ahead of time, because that’s how we
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Disney World for Non Planners
While it may seem like you need a degree in Disney to plan a Walt Disney World vacation these days, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to plan every second before
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My Friday Five – New York State of Mind
Happy Friday! My week was filled mostly with a work trip to New York City. I was traveling with a few co-workers this time, so it was fun to enjoy dinner and
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My Friday Five – Ironman, Croquet, 5k!
My adventures in blogging have been sidelined a little bit this summer by my adventures in life. Aside from work being a bit crazy, the last few weeks have been filled with
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My Friday Five – 4th of July Festivities
Here we are at Friday once again! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. The weather was glorious here, which was much needed after a few weeks of heavy rain
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My Friday Five – Concerts, Golfing, Swimming OH MY!
I’ve been on a bit of a summer break from blogging, trying to keep up with work commitments while trying to enjoy our time with family and friends this summer. I’ve been
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Superhero Dad Libs
Superhero dad libs are a fun and silly way for kids to help celebrate dad for Father’s Day, his birthday or just a little note at the end of a long day.
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My Friday Five – Summer Fun
It feels like the week just got started, only to have it be over in a flash. I want to stop time a little bit so the summer isn’t over before we
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My Friday Five – Start of Summer
Another week of work, school summer program, rinse and repeat. Nothing too exciting this week in our world, but life is good. Here are 5 random tidbits from the week. 1 |
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Zip Code Pillow
This Zip Code Pillow is a unique decorating accessory and makes a great gift idea for a going away present, housewarming, trip commemoration or wedding present. This Zip Code Pillow has been
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My Friday Five – Graduation Day
Another week, another Friday! Here are the highlights from our last 7. 1 | Moving On – to first grade. Carter’s last day of Kindergarten was on Wed. I took the day
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Best DIY Father’s Day Gifts
If you’re looking for ideas DIY Father’s Day gifts, you’ve come to the right place. Most of these are fairly simple and some that your kids can help make. I’ve made several DIY
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My Friday Five – Memorial Day Weekend
Hey Friday, happy to see you again my friend! Why is it that short work weeks after a holiday weekend always seem a bit chaotic? I’m perpetually a day off. While we
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Beaded Leather Cuff Bracelet
This beaded leather cuff bracelet is a stylish addition to your boho chic jewelry wardrobe. It’s easy to make and requires few materials, so you can make a wide variety of looks
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Des Moines Favorites – Downtown Farmers’ Market
One of our favorite things to do on the weekends is go to the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market. Open May-October, it spans nine city blocks on Court Avenue and its side streets.
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My Friday Five – Mother’s Day Recap
I hope all you moms out there had a great Mother’s Day! Our weekend was pretty laid back, but very nice. 1 | Proud Moments – Carter’s class hosted a Mother’s Day Reader’s
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My Friday Five – The Late Show
Some of the best moments seem to come from the unexpected random things, don’t they? 1 | Witnessing The End of An Era – The highlight of my week was getting to
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DIY Wooden Yard Dice
Make your own wooden yard dice, perfect for your next back yard barbeque, tailgate party, beach day, or other outdoor gathering. Let the good times roll by playing all your favorite classic
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My Friday Five – Channeling Wonder Woman
Happy almost weekend everyone! This week passed by in a flash. I hope the weekend takes it’s own sweet time! This week’s Friday Five is brought to you by my inner Super
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At Home Store – Home Decor Warehouse
I mentioned last week that a new home store had opened in our area – At Home. Honestly, I’d never heard of it before, but I was excited to check it out.
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My Friday Five – Rest Please!
Not gonna lie, I’m pretty happy to see this week come to a close. I have a high threshold before meeting my “max limit” and this week I was there by Wednesday.
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Monogram Succulent Garden
Create this easy monogram succulent garden for a personalized planter perfect for your home or office. While I have some very talented gardeners in my family, I tend to be a bit of a
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Temporary Tattoo Easter Eggs
Temporary Tattoo Easter Eggs are a great way to decorate your Easter eggs with your favorite characters, sports teams, and more! First, let me tell you that this is the first time
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My Friday Five – Spring Break Fun at Home
Oh, hello Friday… I couldn’t be happier to see you! It was hard to get back into our routine after Carter’s spring break last week. We didn’t jet off anywhere exotic, but made
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Homemade Bubble Solution
Make a homemade bubble solution with common household ingredients you already have on hand. We had a great end to Carter’s spring break from school last week. I took Friday off from
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My Friday Five – March Madness
Here we are at the end of another week. Most of the schools here were on spring break this last week. While we didn’t jet off to somewhere warm, and I’m incredibly
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Hand Stamped Cheese Knives – Spread Love, Joy, Cheer!
These hand stamped cheese knives are a great gift idea for the cheese lover in your life or as the perfect accessory at your next wine and cheese night. A while ago
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DIY Leather O-Ring Bracelet – Inspired by Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper!
This Leather O-Ring bracelet is inspired by one worn recently by Joanna Gaines on HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Get the step-by-step instructions to make your own! A few weeks ago I posted about a
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Smashed Potatoes
Smashed potatoes are my new favorite way to make potatoes. They have great flavor and the skins get a perfect crisp to them. This recipe was adapted from the Pioneer Woman’s Crash
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LEGO Gift Tags – Free Printable
Use this free printable of a LEGO Minifigure to create your own LEGO gift tags. We used ours to make LEGO Valentines You can cut them into rectangles or cut around the design
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My Friday Five – Yep, It’s Winter
It seems ironic that it snowed almost a foot here the day before Groundhog’s Day. Only 6 more weeks of winter would be welcome! Alas, it’s usually longer than that. Snowstorms here
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Chocolate Chip Toffee Skillet Cookie
You’ll love this skillet cookie twist on your classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, throw in some toffee bits and bake in a cast iron skillet for a treat you’ll eat straight out
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How I Changed My Style and Became a “Dress Person”
Do you ever wish you could adapt to a new style but aren’t quite sure if you should or could? Here’s how I changed my style and started to regularly wear more
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My Friday Five
Celebrate good times… come on! It’s nice to have a few things to celebrate in the middle of winter. This week was filled with Todd’s birthday, Carter’s 100th day of school and
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LEGO Crayon Valentines
Make your own LEGO crayons perfect for a non-candy valentine or LEGO birthday party favor. It’s no surprise that my LEGO fanatic 6 year old wanted LEGO Valentines this year. I ran
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DIY Leather Cord Keeper
Keep your cords secure and tangle free with this stylish diy leather cord keeper. I even personalized mine by stamping the leather with what else – a monogram of course! I’m
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My Experience with WEN Hair Care
I’ve been using WEN cleansing conditioner for quite a long time now. It’s not for everyone, but I’ll share both the good and the bad for you to decide and some tips
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My Friday Five – Just One of Those Weeks
Am I the only one not quite in the swing of things after the holidays? This week has been a long one, and I’m so happy it’s Friday! 1. One Hot Mess
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Make an Angel Wing Bracelet
This DIY Angel Wing Bracelet is a sweet little addition to any angel lover’s jewelry wardrobe. It also makes a great gift for a friend who may need a reminder that someone
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My Friday Five – Hello Winter
I’m writing to you from the frozen tundra of the Midwest. We’ve had a somewhat mild winter so far, but that all changed this week. 1. Oh, Hello Winter – the 7 inches of
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How to Shred Chicken with Your KitchenAid Mixer
Shredding chicken in your KitchenAid mixer is so easy, less messy and a quick time saver… genius really! In my short life of ownership so far of my KitchenAid mixer, I’ve proclaimed
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Etching on Slate
Etching on slate is a quick and easy DIY project. Making personalized slate cheese boards, coasters or signs are a perfect way to dress up your entertainment pieces or to give as
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My Friday Five – Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! We had a pretty relaxing week finishing up some holiday get togethers, ringing in the New Year, sleeping in, watching movies and even getting a few workouts in. I generally
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A Year of Being Grateful
I have a friend who chooses a “focus word” at each start of the new year. Two years ago, I joined her and chose the word CREATE. That was the year I
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Best of 2014 – 2 Year Anniversary
Well, here we are. Today is the 2 year blogiversary of Sometimes Homemade. Like anything to do with time, in some cases it seems longer and in some cases it’s flown by!
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My Friday Five
It’s that time again – thank goodness. Friday.. Friday… Friday! I had a nasty virus that knocked me off my feet for a few days, so I’m happy to report I’m back
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DIY Kitchen Towels
These easy to make diy kitchen towels are an inexpensive gift you can personalize in so many unique ways. Last Christmas, I made some kitchen towels for my mom personalized with my grandmother’s
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My Friday Five
Happy Friday! We had a fairly typical week with work, school and a few ounces of fun thrown in. 1. Twinkle Twinkle – While it’s always a bit of work to get
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My Friday Five
Happy Friday after Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed a great feast and festivities with your families like we did! I was too busy stuffing my face and chatting to take any pictures,
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Soft Gingersnaps
These soft gingersnap cookies are a family favorite recipe from my Grandma Edna. If you don’t think you like gingersnaps, this recipe will prove you wrong. Soft Gingersnaps Ingredients: 2/3 cup margarine
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My Friday Five – First Snow
Another blur of a week… I’m really looking forward to some time off next week over the Thanksgiving holiday to recharge! 1. Let it snow! Well, I’m never quite ready for the snow
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Best Gifts for The Baker
This round up of Best Gifts for The Baker covers must-haves, upgrades on basics, and personalized gifts any baking addict would love! I’m certainly no professional, but I do like to bake.
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Another great combination, these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins got rave reviews from my co-workers. I tend to be a bit of a stress eater and consequently that also translates into being a
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DIY Custom Burp Cloths
DIY custom burp cloths are a great personalized baby gift. Using cloth diapers and fabric of your choice, these will be a new mom’s go-to for the diaper bag. When I was
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Lego Star Wars Stormtrooper Birthday Shirt – (Free Printable)
The birthday shirt tradition continues! For Carter, Lego and Star Wars is a combo much like chocolate and peanut butter is for me… perfection! This Lego Star Wars Stormtrooper birthday shirt was
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Best Parks in Des Moines
Now that the weather is starting to change, we’re trying to squeeze in as much outside time as we can by visiting some of our favorite parks at least one last time
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Peanut Butter Bars
I forgot how good these peanut butter bars really are! I’ve been craving them for a few weeks, in a way that Reese’s Peanut Butter cups just couldn’t curb. Made with ingredients
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Nail Art Designs using a Silhouette
Create your own nail art designs using a Silhouette Cameo or other craft cutting machine. Plus get tips and tricks on applying them and painting your nails. It’s college football season and time
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FREE 1st Day of School Printables
‘Tis the back to school season and that means adorable first day of school pictures. Here’s a round up of some of the best FREE 1st day of school printables. Carter started
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LEGO Travel Kit
This LEGO travel kit is a perfect way to keep your Lego lover entertained on a long car trip or plane ride. If you follow me on Instagram, you know we recently
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USA Rocks T-Shirt – Iron-on Transfer
Make your own USA Rocks T-shirt using an iron-on heat transfer. It’s an easy way to make a custom t-shirt to celebrate the 4th of July or other patriotic holidays. For
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DIY Vintage Patriotic T-Shirt
Last year I made some patriotic shirts for Carter and I to wear on the 4th of July using a bleach pen technique. (No, they were not matchy matchy!) This year, for
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How to Turn Clip-On Earrings Into Pierced Earrings
If you have vintage or other clip-on earrings, you can easily turn them into post style earrings for pierced ears. Here are step-by step instructions for this quick and easy project. When
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Custom Recipe Box using Wood Branding Letters
Make a custom recipe box to store your favorite and handed down recipes in a stylish and personalized box. I used a wood burner and some stain for this quick project!
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Hand Stamped Penny Keychain
Make your own hand stamped penny keychain with names, monograms, birth dates, or anniversaries to have an everyday reminder of the special people in your life. Makes a great DIY gift for Father’s
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Birds Nest Cookie Treats
Birds nest cookies are an easy to make treat perfect for Easter. Kids will love helping to decorate with jelly bean eggs. Make with peanut butter and chocolate or marshmallow. Our Easter
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DIY Personalized Cutting Boards
I’m so happy with how my first wood burning projects turned out! These diy personalized cutting boards can be done in so many creative ways for yourself or as a gift. You know
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Star Wars Craft with Perler Beads
A few weeks ago I dragged Carter to the craft store with me as I got some other craft supplies. I had to convince him with the promise that we’d find something cool we
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Kiss Me, I’m Iowish
Whether you’re Irish or not, who doesn’t love St. Patrick’s Day? With a name like Erin, I kind of have to have some sort of allegiance to Ireland. Plus, who doesn’t love
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Pioneer Woman’s Best Coffee Cake Ever – Review
Is the Pioneer Woman’s Best Coffee Cake Ever Recipe really the best coffee cake ever? Check out how my experience went with this popular recipe. The other day, I had a craving for
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Inspiration Metal Stamped Wrap Bracelet
I tried my hand at metal stamping again, this time to recreate the metal stamped leather wrap bracelet with inspirational phrases rather than birth dates. I just love how they turned out! As
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Framed Button Monogram
One of my first pins on my initial decor board on Pinterest was a button monogram. After finishing my monogram mantel, I’ve slowed down on my monogram wall art projects, but I’ve
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Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon
This baked mac and cheese with bacon solidifies my reign as the queen of side dishes – but only sides. For some reason I can rock the sides, but seem to fall
Read MoreTooth Fairy Pocket
These tooth fairy pockets are a great tradition to use for keeping the magic of the tooth fairy fun and simple. Step-by-step instructions for both sew and no sew versions. We’ve hit
Read MoreBeer Coaster Shadow Box
This beer coaster shadow box has been on my to do list for a while, pretty much from the moment I finished the wine cork holder shadow box. My husband and I
Read MoreCrispy Baked Wings with Spicy Sriracha Honey Glaze
Jump to recipe If you like your wings spicy with a hint of sweet, try these Crispy Baked Wings with Spicy Sriracha Honey Glaze. Plus, use this method for getting crispy baked
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Super Hero Capes for Kids
Step-by-step instructions on making super hero capes for your kids. Plus, check out a great cause for making capes for a good cause! I’ve had Superhero Capes on my crafting to do
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Metal Stamped Leather Wrap Bracelet
Make a metal stamped leather wrap bracelet using special dates like kids birth dates, spouses birth dates, an anniversary or other dates you want to commemorate. This might be one of
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Handwritten Recipes Printed on Tea Towels
Make a cherished gift with your family’s time-honored handwritten recipes printed on tea towels. By now you all surely know that part of my love for baking comes from fond memories
Read MoreFreezer Paper Transfer FAIL
Check out my freezer paper transfer fail! Apparently transferring printed images using freezer paper just isn’t as easy as pretty much everyone else makes it look. It had to happen at
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DIY Etched Mason Jar Glasses
Create these diy etched mason jar glasses for a personalized gift or for yourself. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions that will work for a variety of glass etching projects. After my first
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Best of 2013 – 1 Year Anniversary!
Yesterday marks the 1 year blogiversary of Sometimes Homemade! I started a year ago hoping to get back to DIY and crafting and get some projects done that I hadn’t gotten around
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Best Ever Ranch Snack Mix
This ranch snack mix is an upgraded version of a snack I remember eating as a kid, which we only made with oyster crackers. I went to a baby shower 10 years ago
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Upcycled Sweater Pillow
This cozy upcycled sweater pillow project is a great way to get a second life out of a favorite sweater. As promised, I’m finally posting my third (but not final) upcycled
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Almond Creme Cookies
Almond creme cookies (also called Swedish Cream Cookies) are delicate pastry cookies with a great almond flavor. Make them in your favorite shapes and filling colors for any occasion. There’s not
Read MoreEasy Bead Bracelet
Get step-by-step instructions on this easy bead bracelet which quick and inexpensive to make and perfect for layering with other bracelets. Every year I participate in an annual gift exchange with some
Read MoreSweater Wine Bottle Holder
Make this cute Sweater Wine Bottle Holder from an old sweater for a cute holiday hostess gift or decorating accent. I like to get wine. I like to give wine. I can’t
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Make a Sweater Tree
Make a Sweater Christmas Tree out of an old sweater, a perfect piece to add texture to your holiday decor. This sweater Christmas tree is a project I fully intended to
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DIY Arrow Bracelet
Make your own arrow bracelet, perfect for layering with other bracelets. This simple step-by-step tutorial shows you how to make an arrow bracelet with just an arrow charm and colored cording. Long
Read MoreBest DIY Bracelets – with tutorials
I’m a bit of a bracelet fanatic (necklaces too, most accessories really). Over the past several months I’ve made several DIY bracelets. They are often some of the most popular posts here,
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Wine Cork Ball
Use your old wine corks to make this wine cork ball as an ornament or a home decorating accent. This is a quick and easy project also make a great gift for a
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Upcycled T-Shirt Scarf
Make an upcycled t-shirt scarf with your old college t-shirts, race t-shirts, concert t-shirts you no longer want to wear, but you don’t want to part with. I cleaned out my closet
Read MorePumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Jump to recipe I had a bit of a panic moment last week when I thought I lost my husband’s grandmother’s pumpkin bar recipe. Every fall I make a batch of pumpkin
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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
I have finally learned the simple art of making roasted pumpkin seeds. As a kid I remember munching on roasted pumpkin seeds while finishing up our pumpkin carving. As an adult I
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Avengers Birthday Party
I’m finally getting around to writing about my son’s Avengers Birthday party from this past weekend. I think it took me this long to recover! When we first started planning his party
Read MoreFelt Superhero Masks
Felt superhero masks are sure to delight your little superhero! This step by step tutorial includes both sew and no-sew directions for Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Wolverine, Batman, Batgirl, and Spiderman
Read MoreSuperman Birthday Shirt – free printables!
Make a Superman Birthday Shirt using my free printables that replace Superman’s “S” with your child’s age. It was a big day in our house today, my son Carter turned 5! He’s
Read MoreMake Your Own Waterproof Sports Labels
This year has been the first year our son has participated in organized sports. The first season of soccer had some ups and downs, mostly downs with tears at some point during
Read MoreBest Chex Mix Ever – done in 15 minutes!
My grandma used to make Chex mix for every family get together and make one batch for everyone else and one batch for my cousin and I to share – because we
Read MoreFirst Day of School Favorites Photo
First day of school pictures are a right of passage. I remember standing on my front porch as a kid as my mom took our picture and I remember looking at pictures
Read MoreTeam Colors Braided T-Shirt Bracelet
It’s unseasonably hot here right now with temps in the high 90’s to over 100 this week. The hottest week of the year, yet this weekend is the start of college football
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Nail String Art – Initial and Chevron
You’ve probably seen nail string art projects on many diy sites or Pinterest. I’ve been working on a project for a friend and decided to give it a try. I love it
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites
Chocolate peanut butter bites are a perfect bite-size dessert combining peanut butter cookie dough with a fudge filled center. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combos (tied with
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Wine Cork Holder Shadow Box
Create a wine cork holder shadow box to display all of your wine corks and remind you of your favorite wine drinking memories. Makes a great gift for a wine lover! I’ve
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Chain and Suede Laced Bracelet
Make your own stylish chain and suede laced bracelet – looks great on its own or stacked with other bracelets. The color combinations are endless! It’s been a while since I’ve made
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New (To Me) Furniture – Change It or Leave It?
I finally have a place I can give my sewing machine a permanent home! I’m still pretty much an amateur when it comes to sewing, but my projects are few and far
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Grilled Chicken Nachos
You haven’t had nachos until you’ve made Grilled Chicken Nachos. Grilling provides a crispiness to the chips and a smoky flavor to your fixins. Pile on your favorite nacho toppers and pop
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Bleach Pen T-Shirts
Bleach pen t-shirts are an easy and inexpensive way to create personalized t-shirts for all ages and occasions. I tried my hand at designing my own t-shirts this weekend using a bleach
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Hometown Dining Room Wall Gallery
We made this hometown dining room gallery wall to showcase the love for our home city. This would be perfect for a favorite or special travel city too! We’re getting closer and closer to
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Mint Chocolate Oreo Layer Cake
I hope everyone who was celebrating Father’s Day had an enjoyable weekend! We had our families over on Saturday for a BBQ. While it sprinkled on and off, at least the rain
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DIY Subway Art – Des Moines
This DIY subway art project featuring our home city – Des Moines – is one I’ve been pondering for several months. It’s easy to find ready made subway art for major cities,
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I Love Daddy Shadow Photo
This I Love Daddy Shadow photo makes a great gift idea for Father’s Day or a birthday. Also makes a perfect quick and easy photo gift for mom’s, grandparents and other loved
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Father’s Day Photo Gift
Take photos of your child holding wooden letters from the craft store spelling out dad for an easy and inexpensive Father’s Day photo gift! I’m struggling a little bit on how
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Staining Honey Oak Trim Darker
Staining your outdated honey oak trim is easier than you think. No sanding or stripping required. This easy method provides great result for a quick DIY update. If you follow me regularly,
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How to Remove Water Stains from Wood
See how to remove water stains from wood using common household products. A few weeks ago, right before I restained our honey oak mantel a darker color, I decided to try to
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DIY Paracord Survival Bracelet
Learn how to make a Paracord Survival Bracelet. Perfect gift for your outdoor enthusiast. While I was making some DIY Cause Bracelets for my friend’s family, I was trying to figure out
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Monogram Gallery Wall
Monogram gallery wall with a mix of diy monogram letters, family photos and more. Get step-by-step directions for all of the diy monogram projects. If you follow my blog regularly, you’ve
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Aged Paint Monogram {tutorial}
Step-by-step instructions to make an aged paint monogram. This technique would work for most distressed or antiqued wood projects. I think this aged paint monogram will be the last project for my
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DIY Cause Bracelets
A few months ago one of my best friends daughters was diagnosed with leukemia. Thankfully she is responding well to treatment so far and her prognosis is very good. There was a
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Baked Chicken Taquitos
You’ll love these baked chicken taquitos. We go back to this recipe over and over again. Makes a great freeze ahead meal or appetizer! There’s one recipe I’ve pinned from Pinterest that
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Chipotle Roasted Chickpeas
This recipe for chipotle roasted chickpeas is an easy snack to make for game day, road trips, or anytime. Easily modify by using the same roasting method for different seasonings for tasty alternatives.
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Stenciled Garden Rocks
Stenciled garden rocks are a quick and easy garden project or gift idea. Personalize with monograms, leaves or your favorite team logo. Step-by-step instructions and photos. Spring peaked out this weekend for
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Vintage Wood Tile Letter
Step-by-step instructions with pictures for making a vintage looking wood tile letter. I found a vintage looking tile letter from Spicher and Company several months ago. I pinned it on my Initial
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Circle Inspiration Bracelet
On one of my many trips to Michael’s recently, I ran across these inspiration word circles that I knew would be perfect for a gift I was working on. Using some suede
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Bead and Knot Cord Bracelet
I’ve been making a lot of bracelets lately, partly because I love bracelets and it’s on the verge of spring weather here, but I’m also working on a project I’ll reveal soon.
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Personalized State Wall Art {Where We Met}
DIY personalized state wall art makes the perfect unique gift idea or to show off your own home state or where you and your significant other met. I keep adding projects
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DIY Tube Wrap Bracelet
A perfect bracelet for layering, make this quick and easy diy wrap bracelet using leather cord and tube beads. I became a bit of a bead addict and hoarder over the holidays
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Mint Chocolate Brownie Bites
A beloved flavor combination, these mint chocolate brownie bites are as delicious as they are cute. My all-time favorite dessert flavor combination is chocolate and mint (followed closely by chocolate and peanut
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Burlap Monogram Letter with Wedding Year
This framed burlap monogram with wedding year is a perfect wedding or anniversary gift. Here we go again, another monogram project. I’m working on an initial collection for our mantel to replace
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DIY Wrap Bracelet {tutorial}
Get step-by-step instructions with pictures for making a beaded diy wrap bracelet for a fraction of the cost of designer bracelets like Chan Luu. I have to admit, I love accessories, especially
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Dry Erase Daily Love Message Frame
Quick and easy handmade gift idea for creating a dry erase daily love message frame. Leave notes each day for your loved ones to show what you appreciate about them. Several weeks
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Felt Fortune Cookies
These quick and easy to make felt fortune cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion where you need a simple, personalized gift. Most of the time when I pick
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Cereal Scotcheroos {Chex + Cheerios}
Use cereal you have on hand and combine with this classic scotcheroo recipe (straight from my grnadma!). I used Chex and Cheerios for these favorite cereal scotcheroos. Scotcheroos are one of those oldie
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Super Hero Valentine’s Suckers
Instructions and free printables for making super hero Valentine’s suckers. These are perfect for Valentine’s Day or birthday party favors. Includes your favorite super heroes for boys and girls. My son is
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Button Flowers
One of my favorite handmade gifts to make for people are these button flowers, generally made from vintage buttons. I ran across something similar in a boutique in Kansas City about 5
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How to Frame T-Shirts
I’m still working on some projects for my husband’s 40th birthday party. He has a lot of old t-shirts from college and concerts that have been sitting in a box in our
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Curtains: Make or Buy?
We’re in the homestretch of redoing our kitchen. All along I’ve been planning to make curtains for our sliding glass door in our dining room. and a Roman shade for the kitchen
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Duct Tape Flower Ring
I like to give craft gifts to my nieces, at least as part of their gifts for birthdays and other holidays. My oldest niece is 9 and this year for Christmas I
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Penne Mac & Cheese with Chicken
You won’t see food posts that often here. While I like to bake, I’m not very skilled when it comes to meal planning. To be honest, I just feel like I never
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Painting Bathroom Cabinets
Each year I take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s from work, and each year I generally try to tackle a home project. One year I organized my basement (wish
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