toddler dress giveaway

a Saturday post around here is pretty uncommon so listen up:) I'm checking in to make sure you saw the giveaway at the bottom of Wednesday's post. since I didn't know what Kimberly made with her yard of fabric I didn't have a picture, but I do now. trust me, you want to win this. if you have no other reason then use it for a baby gift. enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

called to surf blogger party

i recently talked about the downside to being a utah blogger. two of the biggest bonuses of being a utah blogger are great friends and fun events. a couple of weeks ago breezy days and love the skinnys (who sadly now lives in arizona and wasn't there) hosted a blogger party at called to surf. it was such a great night filled with food, fashion, photos, and fun. 

food table

backdrop for photos

candy favor bags

called to surf is branching out into home decor. i want it all.

the swimwear is to die for cute

kevin from sodalicious set up a soda bar. 

we were all in heaven

so much fun with great girls

me with kyla, alycia and elise, ariel and lauren, rachel and kyla

bri, jess, ariel, kyla, lily, alycia

me, elise, rachel, lauren

gracias to kyla for all the photos

mega thanks to all the sponsors for the night

Called to Surf: Website // Instagram // Facebook

Blickenstaffs: Website // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook

Sodalicious: Website // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook

La Jolla Groves: Website // Facebook

Xtend Barre: Website // Instagram // Facebook

Provo Beach Resort: Website

Marleys: Facebook //  Instagram // Twitter

Pureza Salon and Medi Spa: Website // Facebook 

and also to all the fun people Alycia // CROWLEY PARTY
Amber // BAREFOOT BLONDE
Ariel // AUTEUR ARIEL
Aubrey // DREAMING ABOUT SOMEDAY
Bri // BREEZY DAYS
Elise // HUNTERS OF HAPPINESS
Emily // SMALL FRY
Jess // NC GROWN
Kalee // FRED RONGO
Kyla // FORD-OLOGY
Lauren // LOVE, LO
Lily // BLUSHING BOULEVARD
Mark-Anthony // CODING CAMPUS
Rachel // RACHEL SAYUMI
Steph & Jess // SALT STYLE if you're looking for some fun new items for spring/summer, head on over to called to surf in the riverwoods. PS...did you enter the toddler dress giveaway yet? go now!

triple threat: ankle booties

first things first, did you enter the cutest toddler dress giveaway? feel free to link up any sewing projects. second thing, these ankle booties aren't what i intended to post BUT something really bad happened. i took some cute pictures at work a couple of months ago in preparation for this link up. i was so on top of things i uploaded them to my new computer and deleted them from my camera. unfortunately i stepped on my computer, cracked the screen, and it's now at the computer shop. so, those pictures will have to be for some other time. for now i will post this other pair of slightly above the ankle boots.

frye boots (same pair, different color)

 i took these the same day. my standard pose. please someone help me be less awkward taking pictures...puh leaaaaase.

green brocade cardi, old navy chambray, hue leggings, frye boots

target cardi

photo credit bonnie

i've been told over and over how much i will love these boots. winter was pretty mild around here this year so i didn't wear boots as much as i normally do. i'm still not sure i love them. i always think ankle booties are so cute, but i feel weird sometimes. what do you think? love? hate? let's hear it.

what would you do...6.0

kimberly (yes the same kimberly from blogging the bach and 5 little confessions) and i are back for another round of what would you do...

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...with a yard of fabric?

kimberly and i bought each other a yard of fabric and got to work.

 i had big plans to make a st patrick's day banner with this burlap, but a spring banner with this cute fabric seemed like a better idea. pre made burlap pendant banner is the way to go, i also bought 1/4 of a yard of coordinating fabrics to what kimberly bought.

 make smaller pendant pattern and cut

 lay out fabric to determine pattern

 staple fabric to burlap pendants

 hang and enjoy

a yard of fabric is a lot. i thought the banner would use more.

this is leftover. at some point in my life i'm going to make a quilt of fabric scraps. 

 applique onesies. check out pinterest for lots of tutorials

 applique burp cloth and onesie, skirt, and hair bow

 same as above

 more applique burp cloths

in the end i used almost all of my fabric. i already know kimberly made something good. she is an expert, and i can't wait to see what she made. i already know she made something amazing. she's so nice. she's giving one away. enter below! and be sure to link up your sewing posts. last but not least, join us next month for

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...with a dozen eggs.

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blogging the bach 18.11

congratulations! we all survived this season of the bach. it was pretty questionable for me, but we made it. ashley, kimberly, and i are back for our final thoughts on the most dramatic controversial season of the bach.

let's get started with the word tally journey/adventura...7 amazing...13 connection...2 fairytale...4 sexy...2 love...89 (very interesting considering juan pabs stilll hasn't said it to nikki) the lack of the words connection and fairytale pretty much sums up the season. clare and nikki meet juan p's family. it's awkward, and juan pab seems like he doesn't even want or care to be there. his family doesn't have a lot of good things to say about him, and i am worried. his mom tells clare he is hyperactive and nikki he watches a lot of tv. i'm confused. juan pab's dad said juan p is "focalized in what he wants", and i realize no one speaks english around the place. juan pab plans to "keep an eye on clare" whatever that means. love is said 19 times in the first 13 minutes! clare according to juan pab's, "clare is very hot. she's sexy." he also says some other apparently vulgar things off camera "in private." he doesn't need to discuss these things because he has someone forgotten what show he is on. clare is rightfully upset and most likely regrets the whole ocean sitch. clare hasn't been my fave this season. from the beginning i've said it's not her in the end. i was pretty sure about that. can't blame her for being upset, but i wish her exit would have been a little classier. smart move not to talk to him after the final rose. he wouldn't have said much anyway. nikki she also seems to forget she's on the bach and is so upset that she doesn't know how he feels. i would be more upset 4 months later, but she seems over it. juan pab says "when i feel it i'll open up". guess he still doesn't feel it. she's obvs way into him, and we still (4 months later) are unsure of his feelings. nikki spills her guts multiple times and juan pabs responds with "i like you a lot"+a wink. all of bachelornation dies. after the final rose "i don't want to sit here on this couch and get fed any more BS."--clare "i don't like talking about my private things."--juan pabs---get your mind out of the gutter chris harrison--so you have no regrets? juan p--"it's fine" chris h "so you love her?" juan p "i'm not going to answer that." all the bach peeps are literally dying. they are just as confused as the rest of us. arie's instagram pics are the best! sharlene killed it with the facials all.night.long as she sits there thinking "phew..i dodged a bullet" sean and catherine are still my fave, and clearly think the same things about juan pabs as the rest of us. juan pab says over and over it's our time to be together, it's our time to be private. por favor do us all a favor and disappear.  in the words of chris harrison "i'm not going to lie. i'm ok moving on" how did you feel about this season? let's hear it, and link up below if you wrote a post.

random rambling...

a few weeks ago one of my pretty good friends asked me the most surprising question. she asked "do you want to get married?" i was pretty shocked. i feel like i talk about it often enough that everyone around me would know i want to be married and have kids. it made me think... just because i am happy doesn't mean i don't want to get married just because i travel doesn't mean i don't want to get married just because i have a career doesn't mean i don't want to get married just because i don't do online dating doesn't mean i don't want to get married just because i have fun doesn't mean i don't want to get married you get the idea. yes, sometimes i am sad and lonely, but most of the time my life is pretty great. i have wonderful family and friends. i get to travel.  i have responsibilities like everyone else, but i can generally do what i want to do. i have a lot of freedom and flexibility, and i am really happy with my life. BUT, i would give all that up for a husband and a family. to my friend and anyone else who might be wondering... yes i want to get married no i have never tried online no i have no idea how i am supposed to meet someone yes i happily go on blind dates no i'm not going to sit around and be miserable hoping that my husband magically appears yes i am going to live my life and be happy about it right now
come back tomorrow for the final blogging the bach for this season and wednesday for what would you do..." with a yard of fabric.

foodie friday...homemade peppermint oreos

have you ever made homemade oreos? please say yes. i made them here and here. they are quick and easy and definitely a go to for me. i needed a treat to take to a party the other night and really really didn't want to go to the store. I most always have cake mixes on hand so this was an easy choice. I already had buttercream frosting as well as chopped up candy cane from december's what would you do post. the cookies + frosting + candy cane accents were quick and easy and a total hit.

cookies

1 devil's food (or any other flavor) cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 c oil

combine ingredients, mix, roll into small ball, bake on greased cookie shot for 8-10 minutes 350*

buttercream frosting (makes way more than plenty for cookies)

4 c powdered sugar

1/4 c milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c butter

1/4 c shortening

add peppermint extract to taste

after cookies cool, frost cookie and make cookie sandwich, roll in crushed peppermint.

everyone loved these. plain frosting especially cream cheese frosting is really good, but i want to try more flavors. maybe coconut next?!? what other flavors should i try?

5 little confessions...beauty edition

we've all seen the posts going around blogland and social media about being honest and keeping things real. bloggers often get accused of posting only the parts of our lives we want to show off. we know we all have those less than bloggable moments in life. as readers, we all love reading those posts, but as writers we sometimes avoid spilling the dirt. in the spirit of keeping things real, we bring you 5 little confessions. did you go 5 days without washing your hair? did your clean laundry sit on your floor until it was time to wash again? did you spend all weekend keeping up with the kardashians? did you eat cake for breakfast? dig up a few of your secrets and link up below.


Follow your Hosts if you want
Link up 5 Little Confessions
Hop around and read some other confessions

Your Hosts

Carrie from Curly Crafty Mom

Follow Carrie: Bloglovin' • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram 

   

Aubrey from Dreaming About Someday

Follow Aubrey: Bloglovin' • Twitter • Instagram

Jacq from Justjacq

Follow Jacq: Bloglovin' • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Kimberly from Olive the Things

Follow Kimberly: Bloglovin' • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

5 Little Confessions:

 

i talk all over social media and even here on the blog about how much i love suave dry shampoo. i think i'll always love suave, but lauren just convinced me to try another brand. i feel like i'm cheating on my fave. stay tuned for a comparison.

i recently switched from BB to CC cream. i have no clue what it's for, but i use it anyway.

 

i've been waxing my eyebrows since i was 12, shave everyday, and have lots of laser hair removal, but i recently waxed my nose for the first time. try it. you'll love it i promise.

i don't use moisturizer on my face. shoot me. no one, i mean no one, ever guesses how old i am so i guess i'm ok.

 

i use monistat on my face. yes, you read that right. relax it's the chafing gel and has the same ingredients as smashbox primer for mucho less money. 

ok, let's hear it. link up your 5 little confessions below. come back the first wed of next month for 5 little confessions-blogger edition.

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

blogging the bach 18.10...women tell all/no regrets

this season is dragging on for me. anyone else? i am usually so sad when the bach ends, but this season i am pretty stoked to be at the tale end. ashley, kimberly, and i are back to dish on the bach.

before the show even started, i was/am pretty sad i can't live tweet and blog. both take too much concentration. live tweeting might have been the better option this time. also.i kind of hate that everyone watches in different time zones which makes twitter tricky anyway. one other side note...my all staff meeting at work consisted of lots of talk about how amazing people are and how amazing the programs are. while i really believe it's true, i can't hear amazing without thinking about the bach which brings me to the word tally for the week.  journey/adventure...4 amazing...0...is that right? must have missed it a few times love...24...pretty surprising considering the mood connection...9 fairytale...0...most underused word this season sexy...2 or 3 or maybe more...i got messed up on this one. why didn't i keep track of "honestly" or "at the end of the day?"...both said a heckuva lot sean and catherine were up first. all i have to say is i love love love them. i miss sean's season. love catherine's bangs. wish they were the whole show. google image what on earth was with ms piggy and kermit? that was so weird! flashback to emily's season. we obvs need to fill up some time. everyone talks about how attractive juan pabs is. we all agree...until he opens his mouth. andi thinks juan pabs was looking for a girlfriend while the girls were looking for a husband. pretty sure she's right. there is no way he's ending this thing with a wife. this week can be pretty entertaining. the girls didn't have very many nice things to say about poor juan pabs. i don't feel so bad for him though because apparently he has no regrets about anything including hurting andi's feelings and anyone else's. the girls all looked amazing, and there were some great one liners. sharleen...juan p had "buyer's remorse" about the ocean sharleen..."i wish i was dumber" and looking for a "cerebral connection" renee..."i'm in a situation where i'm very happy"...word is she got engaged a few days later andi..."i think juan pablo thinks he was a really great bachelor" i was hoping for a few more from kelly and lucy. things got a little heated. i thought juan pabs might apologize a little for something at least, but per usual he was pretty clueless. i think we can all agree he's not doing himself any favors by opening his mouth. and for the real news...andi is obvs the next bachelorette right?!? the questions from chris h (who is finally back on the show) totally primed us for the announcement. i've loved her from the start, and i think she will be so fun to watch. google image what's going to happen next week? i don't know if i super care either way, but i think it's nikki. there's no way they are still together though. can't wait to find out what happens. link up below if you posted.