Heavenly Blossoms: 2012

Where I have been...

I'm sitting in my car at 6:43 in the morning waiting to go for a run with a group. I'm sooo sore from last this past week. Insanity on Tuesday, flu shot on Wednesday and I had a Physical Fitness test on Thursday. Today. Needless to say it was really hard to get up this morning.

I am at Fort Dix on orders with the Yellow Ribbon program and I work like an active duty soldier which feels great. Not too mention we plan and conduct events for soldiers who have returned from their deployments plus their families.

So if I may have been MIA To you that's what I have been up to. And where I live in the barracks there is no wifi. I'm lucky to have a cell signal, really.

But check this out.

It's a beautiful foggy morning. I guess I could be grateful that mother nature is gonna be generous an not kill me with a warmer morning. :)

Plus I hear that fog is great for your skin! So let's go!!! Who's running this morning?!

Faves & Finds Linky Party 5!

Hi everyone!! Last week was rough! I got NO submissions :(.

Let's change that this week! :)

Come and share your tutorials, recipes, favorite vacations, parties...whatever floats your boat today :)

Here is my favorite from this week!

Since Mother's Day is around the corner, it would be nice to have a ONE-STOP shop where we can tackle our list of beloved ladies for this day! So once of my favorite bloggers, Laura from Our Reflection has a Mother's Day Shopping Mall up on her site!!

It showcases some of my favorite shops online, and I guarantee when you check it out you will have a hard time not buying some goodies for yourself as well!! There's jewelry, accessories, clothing, and web designs!!! And most if not ALL are offering discounts of 10% or more!!!

I think it's really great for her to have done this post! It is a fantastic way for us bloggers to get to know new shops!! And the deals are great! :)

So check it out when you get a chance!

Now its time to link up!!!

1. Try and follow Heavenly Blossoms via GFC, Hellocotton, or Bloglovin'!!! Can't miss out on future opportunities to link up right!? [not required though, but I would love it :)]

2. Link up to a blog post, this makes it much easier to find your fave/find of the week! (Please no giveaways, shops, etc.)

3. Be sure to check out the other links! I have met some amazingly great people through linky parties. This one will be no exception!

4. Make sure to grab a button for your blog!

Heavenly Blossoms Faves & Finds Linky Party

21 Day Challenge: I got my computer desk back!

So I am just OVER having nothing but junk ALL over the home office...no one keeps up with the mail and it all just...

keeps.

piling.

up!

So I am now taking part in a 21-day challenge! If you are interested, stop by Life Created she's starting the challenge up originally posted by A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Now if you are impatient like me, you can refer to the original posts for ideas and to find out whats ahead? Nothing like preparing after procrastination, I always say.....ok, so I never say that. It doesn't even make sense, but this challenge a fun activity (trust me its fun when everyone shares their end results) for all of us to take part together in!

And guess what? Today's challenge everyone has a chance to win a prize!!! Not bad for a little bonus to add to the freshly uncluttered and clean areas!

So here is my Day 2: The Computer Desk

Yes, I'm almost ashamed to show this...I have all OVER.

I followed the Relocate/donate, Trash, Keep rule, and lets just say MOST of this stuff was relocate and donate. Pretty sad huh? What helped me plenty was the rule of throwing away papers/bills that were a month old, why keep them when all that stuff is saved on-line right?? Thanks for that tip ladies!!!

Here is the big reveal!

Look at that!!! Bet you couldn't tell I had a desktop computer behind all of that! I was able to reorganize my favorite reads, and military books and my mail center for my craftiness now sits behind that windowed compartment on the right! Its great to have it all organized once and for all!!!

An empty inbox and a WHOLE space of table to use! It is SO pleasing to the eye! :)

I'll be sharing this over at Life Created!!! Stop by!

Celebrating the Success of a Friend!

HI guys!!!

My girl Kristine from The Foley Fam is celebrating her first Blog-iversary ALL MONTH!!!

She's a great gal if you haven't gotten a chance to meet her then definitely make it a point to stop by after this post! I will be keeping the button above on my sidebar so you can easily navigate to her page!

The Foley Fam is a blog that I love to read EVERY POST. Kristine is patient, kind, funny, generous and most importantly GENUINE! It's great that she shares so much of her life with us, she's a great mommy and a great blogger. She's even got this really neat shop on Etsy!

One of my favorites is this newborn headband!! Such a cute spring/summer accessory!

via

I have participated in giveaways with her, she is a great person to work with, and her posts are a whole lotta fun! I am pleased to say that I will also be in her first giveaway of the month!! So be sure to keep on the lookout for when that happens!

Happy Blog-iversary Krisitine!!! I admire you and your work and it is a privilege to be your friend! I wish you just as much success and then some in the years to come!! :)

Toy's R Us, Barnes & Noble and Sidewalk Chalk

The other day we ransacked Toy's R Us and Barnes & Noble. The need for crayons inspired this trip but not only did she get her jumbo crayons, but she got a Leap Frog Tag Jr. with THREE books, she got some educational workbooks AND drumroll please......

her first case of sidewalk chalk!

[yes I did say case]

So yesterday we took a walk around the neighborhood of our complex and we picked an abandoned sidewalk. The developer stopped making town homes, so a sidewalk intended to border another building of them, was laid but the homes were never built. Sad I know. But GREAT for us because we DREW ALL OVER!

When I say "WE", I kinda mean I had a bit more fun with the colors while she scribbled away!

I know its just sidewalk chalk, but to me its a great way to bond with my little one even more. I only refer to them by their colors so it becomes a learning experience while she scribbles all over the cement! She doesn't even realize and she's sooo great with her colors now!

I really do love that she can play with sidewalk chalk, I never really had the opportunity to those kind of things growing up in apartment buildings, but she loved it! It's definitely a great day to keep in mind, and add to the book of memories before I leave for my deployment.

Also, the best thing was that since we live nearby a bay, we had a front row view of the huge tanker ships sailing by.

My low-angle shot of the little one, while she enjoys the sun and fresh air!

Thanks for sharing a day with me and my little sweetie!!!

Today I am linking my last photo with the Photo Challenge: From A Low Angle, over at Our Reflection

Faves & Finds Linky Party 4!

So my favorite thing that I came across was this Washi-tape Pencil Cup from A Creative Cookie!

via

I love how easy it is to make and I love that she changed the direction of the tape on each side. It's perfect for someone like me who gets tired of things too quickly, just twist around and its like a whole new style!

So that's my fave of the week and best believe, I will be heading over to Target to pick up some wash tape to make some goodies of my own!

Now its time to link up!!!

1. Make sure to try and follow Heavenly Blossoms via GFC, Hellocotton, or Bloglovin'!!! Can't miss out on future opportunities to link up right!?

2. Link up to a blog post, this makes it much easier to find your fave/find of the week! (Please no giveaways, shops, etc.)

3. Be sure to check out the other links! I have met some amazingly great people through linky parties. This one will be no exception!

4. Make sure to grab a button for your blog!

Weekend at Sandy Cove: Photo Diary

So last weekend I had the blessing (yes truly a blessing) of being able to attend my church's Women's Retreat!

Last week was a really, REALLY ROUGH week for me, and the little one. We are going through some things as a family. Not something I'm ready to share with the world yet, but when I am, I'll make sure there is a positive ending to it all! Don't want to bring you guys all down right?

With the week I had, I actually ALMOST didn't make the trip! And if there was ANY reason AT ALL to go and be healed by this retreat, my week had every. single. one.

The one thing I really love to tell people about this group is that it's quite possibly the most genuinely nice group of people you will ever meet! You can tell when someone is really using their faith to express love as opposed to show off their faith. Because of these people, I was able to reflect on my life, and gain a closer relationship with the God I believe in.

We had the most amazing speaker, Tracie Miles, from Proverbs 31 Ministries to help us "take off our masks" and live life without being brought down by guilt from past transgressions. To move on and take off on the right foot for the best of us, our families, our children, and also the people around us. To be the best we possibly can with God's help of course! It was really inspiring!

Just to get into everything that was covered will have to take a few posts. So I'll start with a photo diary of where we stayed. We were in North East, Maryland (no really, the town is called NORTH. EAST.) and just before you get to the resort you have to drive through this adorable little avenue, with with restaurants, antique shops and many small businesses...it was like Etsy in person...just wonderful. Then the resort itself was really just so nice and peaceful. I can't wait to go back and enjoy it with my daughter.

I was really blessed to have several great people to make it possible to be able to attend. And if you guys are reading this, I am TRULY TRULY THANKFUL!!!!

On the road into the resort!

S'mores - utterly irresistible!

Dewy morning

Best seat in the house.

Add caption

My lovely roomies!! Valerie and Angela!

Sunset.

A beautiful place to relax indoors with a nice cup of joe.

Riding through a really big storm! Couldn't have a better song come up!

Guest Post!!! Summer from Made by Munchie's Mama!!

Hey everyone!!! I want to introduce you to my latest Guest Post lovely today!!! She is a wonderful person, with a beautiful family and she is an amazing mama!! Did I also mention she's a boatload of talent and a busy bee? This girl is all over the social media networks and she has an AWESOME blog conference coming up in JUNE!!! I myself would have been right in the first row for that but the Army just happened to call me to California for the month of June! (SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AHHH!!!)

Anyhow, without further ado, here she is to share with you all!

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My name is Summer and I am the all over the place mama behind Made By Munchie's Mama.
I work, I wife, I mama and occasionally I am just Summer. I have 2
little boys: Munchie who is 2 aka Gavin and Dylie Bear who is 7 months
aka Dylan.

My
hubby and I are just like every other couple: struggling to find the
work, parent, spouse balance and taking things one day at a time. On
my blog you will find me writing about fights I have with my hubby, mama guilt, what I wear on Wednesdays, and stuff they don't tell you about parenthood before you get pregnant. I also throw a good ole' tutorial around every now and then.

And speaking of tutorials, here is a quick little project that I wanted to share with you all today.

Here is my tutorial on how to make a cute little trim dispenser from an empty formula canister...hope you enjoy!

 Supplies: clean formula canister {you could also use one of those planter nut mix canisters if you don't have any formula drinkers at your casa}, scrapbook paper, sponge brush and Mod Podge

 I measured my canisters and their lids and cut out rectangles to go around the outsides and circles to cover the lids.  I also designed a cute little label so I knew what was inside.  Then I cut a little slit in the lid for the lace to come out of...I was going to put 2 kinds in the one on the left, that's why there are 2 holes. You only need 1 hole.

 Apply a thick coat of Mod Podge on the entire canister and on the lid and put a thin layer on the paper back.  Lay the paper down and smooth out any air pockets with your hands.  

Then apply 1 more coat over the paper to make sure it sticks on there really well.  It also gives it a nice little shine.  When it's dry take an craft knife of scissors to cut a slit in the paper for your lace to come out of. 

 The canister measured more than 12 inches around and the Silhouette only cuts to 12 inches so I just stuck a scrap piece of paper underneath to cover the exposed part.  I actually think it looks super cute like that.

 And there you have it!  A fun and easy project that will make your craft closet a little brighter and more organized!

BLOG * FACEBOOK * SHOP * TWITTER

"Pin It to Win It" Pinning Party!!

Welcome to The

"Pin It to Win It"

Pinning Party!

Let's meet the lovely ladies who host this Hop:

Summer @ Made By Munchie's Mama

Amanda @ Lillys & Lollipops

Christine @ The DIY Dreamer

Kristine@ The Foley Fam

Jenny@ Heavenly Blossoms

Bonnie@ Pink Stitches

What is a “Pinning Party?” It’s
a fun way to link up a blog post/tutorial or shop item in the section
below this post and get more exposure on Pinterest. It’s a fantastic way
to meet new readers and new friends. This hop is a Pinterest
specific party. Instead of "following" you will be pinning a picture from the post or item linked up.
The rules of the party are: Pin a picture from your hosts' link
– by pining the hosts pictures, it guarantees a pin back from all of us.
Leave us a comment on our blogs, shops or facebook pages letting us know you pinned a picture –
we’d LOVE to hear from you and get to know YOU better. The hosts are the first 6 links in capital letters in the linky section.
Please
pin a few others in the party and leave them a comment saying you came
from the Pin It to Win It Pinning Party. You never know
what new friends you will come across and meet. Thanks for joining us and we hope you have a great time!
Feel free to grab the Party photo if you wish to the help us spread the word!

Guest Post: Aimee from Like Mother Like Daughter!

Today's Tuesday, so that means I have another amazing (and dare I say mouth watering) guest post for you all today!!!
I am a TRUE FAN of this fine pair of ladies!! They are always sharing the yummiest and not so common meals to help you get out of your meal plan rut!! Today is NO exception. If you are in the need of trying something new this post here is the best starting point!! Don't forget to stop by her blog and check out all the other goodies too!!!

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Hey everyone! And thanks to Jennifer for having me visit today. I'm Aimee and I blog over at Like Mother Like Daughter. Its a blog where my mother and I share our favorite recipes and also talk a little about our lives. I'm so excited to be visiting you all today!

About a year and a half ago I made a goal that I would try at least one new recipe every week. My husband and I had gotten in the routine of having spaghetti, tacos, and hamburgers way too often, so I knew this was a great goal for me to branch out. I've kept with my goal, and its now something that I want to continue for the rest of my life, as we've been able to try a great variety of types of foods, and even found some new family favorites.

Thanks to Pinterest I've been able to find a lot of yummy recipes, and I love it as I way to store the recipes I want to make too. Well a few months back I found this amazing recipe on pinterest, and after trying it decided that it was definitely a new favorite. So, here is my recipe for Baked Southwestern Rolls.

Baked Southwestern Rolls

2 chicken breasts (or about 1 lb pre-shredded chicken)

1 (10 oz) can corn, drained

1 (10 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup spinach, chopped

1 (7oz) can diced green chilies

4 green onions, chopped

1/2 red pepper, chopped

1 TBS cumin

1/2 TBS chili powder

1 TBS salt

1/2 TBS pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 package egg rolls

1. Boil chicken until thoroughly cooked
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
3. Shred chicken with 2 forks
4. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
6. Lay an egg roll wrapper out with a corner facing you.
7. Place about 1/4 cup of the filling in the middle lower half.
8. Take the 2 outward points and fold them in.
9. Take the tip closest to you and roll over the mixture until mixture is covered.
10. Dip your finger in water (or beaten egg) and wipe over the free corner of the egg roll.
11. Press to seal closed.
12. Repeat with the remaining egg rolls.
13. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
14. Place the egg rolls on the pan seam side down.
15. Bake for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through baking.
16. Serve with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

Thanks again Jennifer for having me over here. And I hope you all let me know if you have any questions regarding this recipe, or need any recipe ideas to get out of the same grind we were once in. And be sure to visit us over here :)

Faves & Finds Linky Party 3!

Hello!! Welcome to another edition of Faves & Finds!!!!

Sorry I didn't post last wee, it was a big Army week for me, VERY busy as you can imagine! But I am here now, and I have a big Fave & Find from last week to share with you!!!!!

Meet Jenny and Catherine of Modern Modest Beauty! They linked up at the last party, and Jenny shared a post about her favorite layover!

I just absolutely ADORE this blog!!! These fine ladies show us that it really is possible to look, feel and be beautiful without sacrificing modesty! A tough job in this day and age, but these ladies make it easy and they look great doing it! I highly recommend you check out their blog for some more awesome posts! They are quite the inspiring pair!

Here is a photo Jenny shared from her layover in San Antonio!! :)

Now its time to link up!!!

1. Make sure to follow Heavenly Blosoms via GFC, Hellocotton, or Bloglovin'!!! Can't miss out on future opportunities to link up right!?

2. Link up to a blog post, this makes it much easier to find your fave/find of the week! (Please no giveaways, shops, etc.)

3. Be sure to check out the other links! I have met some amazingly great people through linky parties. This one is no exception!

4. Make sure to grab a button for your blog!

Guest Post!! Lauren from Our Reflection!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

Today is another great guest post!!!

I have Laura here from Our Reflection hooking us up with some fantastic photography tips! I have had the privilege of "meeting" Laura through a really huge blog hop back in January! She is amazing to work with, sponsor, and just an all around blessing of a human being!! I encourage you to stop by her blog!! Its one of my daily must-reads!

Take it away Laura!

Hello! I’m Laura from Our Reflection. I’m super excited about being a guest today.

A little about me. I’m a full-time working mom of two amazing daughters and an admirable, encouraging husband who are my life. I am, regrettably, a bit addicted to social media. I have a constant connection Facebook and Twitter wherever I am. I love Starbucks, the colors pink and yellow, mountain biking, and listening to the piano. My new addition seems to be blogging!

When I’m not working my 8-5 or being “mommy”, I’m a lifestyle photographer based out of Monterey, California. In my mind, I am ALWAYS thinking about photography. It never ends. My brain takes snapshots everywhere I go. My photographic passion is people. Couples, families, and children. Nothing brings me more joy than capturing those unforgettable moments that will be treasured for a lifetime. Check out my photography page by clicking here.

Today I wanted to share with you some of my fav's and helpful tips when taking portraits.

1) Time of day. Its all about lighting. The best pictures will be taken the 2 hours after sunrise and the 2-hours prior to sunset. This gives everyone that natural "glow."

2) Don't go crazy buying expensive equipment but do invest in a DSLR camera. They're not to expensive these days and worth every penny. {I'm a Canon girl myself.}

3) Keep your camera with you at all times. I'm one for spontaneous photos. The ones unplanned are always the best.

4) What should I wear in my portrait? I get asked this question all the time. The clothes a person wears has a big impact on the end result of the photo. They need to be comfortable. If they feel awkward in their outfit or environment, you won't capture them looking like themselves.

5) Don't be afraid to experiment. If you're using a digital camera, the cost of errors are free. Go crazy - you might end up with one you really love.

I hoped this help you feel more comfortable with your camera. I love questions or comments so please feel free to drop me an email.