Simple Toast Art

What a fun breakfast idea!  For those of you who want to make your own toast art, here's how:

 Cut out shapes in aluminum foil and place them on bread. Put said bread in a toaster. That's it!

Sorry for the low quality pics, but you get the idea!  You can also add whiskers or other embellishments with jelly, cinnamon or chocolate chips!

Last Week's Party Highlights

According to "Likes" and clicks the following were the most popular links at last week's BYOB party:

 

Pull String Pig Pinata from Moments with Montanos

Tres Leches Cupcakes from Little Inspiration

Thanks everyone!  Please grab a button and attach to your post to show off your popularity!

Wanna Make Some Money???

Check out this awesome ChaCha Affiliate Program .  You get compensated for tweeting and posting!  REALLY!!!

Summer Slim Down... attempt

I finally threw away my size 4 and size 6 shorts this summer.  I was (mistakenly) under the impression that I might wake up one day, suddenly be a size 6 and unclothed!  Although if I did wake up a size 6, I would probably run around naked anyway checking out my miraculously toned glutes!  But alas, I gave up the dream and reality hit me right in my chubby little face.... I'm going to have to actually work at this.  I don't like to sweat and I don't like to be deprived anything!  Diet and exercise is something crazy people do because they weren't hugged enough as a child or something.

Well, I discovered a wonderful place that sells meal replacement shakes and for a small fortune you, too, can have all the smoothie enhancements you desire!

I LOVE SMOOTHIE KING!  There I said it.  Starbucks, I am truly sorry, it's not you, it's me.  The reason my baristas haven't seen me lately is because I've been sneaking around with Smoothie King.  It started out as purely a friend thing!  I just wanted some lunch in a hurry one day and I had a coupon!  I don't know what happened... one smoothie lead to another and pretty soon I am buying the big bucket o' smoothie mix to make them at home.

I joined Planet Fitness ($10 a month baby!) and started the ARC machine about 45 -55 minutes per day with Smoothie King for lunch.  This all began maybe 3 weeks ago.  I don't feel a huge loss (no pun intended) but it's a gradual loss.  For example, my butt sweat imprint on the workout machines seems to be shrinking.  I wipe them down with cleaner!  Yuck!

Anyway, wish me luck and I'll keep you posted!  Any tips would be appreciated!



May 26, 2012 Saturday BYOB Link Party

Here are the "suggestions" for the Saturday BYOB(Bring Your Own Blog) link parties:

• ~ Please link up only your own projects, and link to the specific post, not your blog home page.
  
  
  
• ~ Please grab an Honestly, Dyea BYOB button below and include it somewhere in the post you’re linking on your home page (a text link is great too!) This helps out bof-us (you and me)!!
• ~ I reserve the right to remove  offensive posts. I will also put a curse on you that will include the fleas of a thousand camels and your underwear, so play nice!

• ~ Stay and mingle (remember, it’s a party!), and leave a couple comments for other guests! Check out their blogs and find new favorites!
• ~Click here for tutorial on linking up

<a href="http://www.honestlydyea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/DyeaT/button-4-1.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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My Must-Have Maintenance Products

There are several products I have stumbled upon over the years that I can NOT live without.  Some are relatively cheap and some might indicate an addiction to infomercials but they all work! 

1.) CVS Brand Eye Make-Up Remover ~ I have not found a better eye make-up remover and I don't believe one exists.  

2.) proactiv ~ The infomercials are true!  This system has kept my skin perfectly clear since I started using it about a year ago.  It did take a week or so to adjust.  What I mean by that is there was some drying to my skin but when I backed off to only using it at night and gradually adding morning back into my routine, the dryness was fixed right up.

 3.) Neutrogena Break-Out Free Sunscreen~
Never leave home without it!  I put this on after proactiv and before make-up.  It's lightweight and doesn't interfere with your make-up.

4.) CVS Creme Hair Remover Kit ~ Once your skin is fabulous and protected, make sure people can see it and remove that fuzz, honey! 

5.) Equate Brand Classic Scent Lotion ~
The best smelling lotion ever!!  But don't use it on your face... just the rest of your body.

6.) St. Ives Firming Mask and Apricot Scrub ~ The best at-home skin treatment is too apply the Firming Mask, steam your face for 10 minutes over a simmering pot of water, then remove.  Heaven!

I use the Apricot Scrub on my body.  Especially before self-tanning because it doesn't leave any residue.

7.) Wen Cleansing Conditioner ~ It works!  I NEVER use shampoo anymore!  It does take some getting used to because it's a different method of cleansing your hair.

8.) blowpro Dry Shampoo ~ This stuff is fantastic!  After using the Wen, I can go a couple of days without washing my hair and even MORE when I sprinkle this on the oily parts of my hair!  I even keep some in my purse for greasy "touch-ups".  Your hair is healthier the less you wash it.  After a few weeks of this routine it becomes noticeably healthier and moisturized!

9.) Secret Clinical Strength ~ Last but not least....this is my most important must-have.  Mainly for the benefit of others and my social circle but vitally important.

It's Officially Summer!

It is officially SUMMER !!!

We consider the Strawberry Festival held in Dayton, Tennessee to be the official kick-off to the summer! 

If you have ever wanted to visit Mayberry, then this festival is for you!  The parade, the carnival, the delicious, fattening food... it's Southern heaven!

Kaylie and I are about to ride the Silver Streak (for the second time) even though you had to breathe through your mouth to avoid the smell of vomit.  Love me some carnival.

Check out this horse and it's stars and stripes...



AND the wagon following behind!!

DIY Headband Holder



This is the easiest project from The Beauty Department and hopefully one that will be as beneficial to you as it was to me and my daughter's messy drawers of headbands. Here’s 8 easy steps to making one of these helpful holders…

1. Get a large roll of paper towels. Test a headband on it to make sure it fits. If not, remove some of the paper towels until they fit properly.
2. Get a fabric that coordinates well with your bedroom or bathroom. I went with a very thin taupe-y grey cotton voile fabric.
3. Spray paint a ruler (or something flat that can stablize your paper towel roll) with a complimentary or matching color. I used flat white.
4. Plug in your hot glue gun and get your scissors out!
5. Cut a fabric square and leave an extra 6″ on each side of the roll. Hot glue the edge of the fabric to the paper towel roll as seen above.
6. Wrap it all the way around the paper towel roll, overlapping by an inch or two. Cut and glue that edge into place. I folded my edge under before I glued it to make it cleaner.
7. Once that’s secure, twist the excess fabric on the sides (like you would with a piece of candy) and tuck them into the paper towel roll hole.
8. Put hot glue on your ruler or piece of wood and secure it to the base of the headband holder to prevent it from rolling.

Last but not least…

May 19, 2012 BYOB Link Party

Here are the "suggestions" for the Saturday BYOB(Bring Your Own Blog) link parties:

• ~ Please link up only your own projects, and link to the specific post, not your blog home page. No Etsy shops, round-ups or giveaways, please. I have a Giveaway Link up for those....
  
  
  
• ~ Please grab an Honestly, Dyea BYOB button below and include it somewhere in the post you’re linking on your home page (a text link is great too!) This helps out bof-us (you and me)!!
• ~ I reserve the right to remove posts that do not follow the rules. I will also put a curse on you that will include the fleas of a thousand camels and your underwear, so play nice!

• ~ Stay and mingle (remember, it’s a party!), and leave a couple comments for other guests! Check out their blogs and find new favorites!
• ~Click here for tutorial on linking up

<a href="http://www.honestlydyea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/DyeaT/button-4-1.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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Birchbox MAN

Now the men in your life can stop stealing your samples. For $20/month, guys will get deliveries of trial-size grooming and full-size lifestyle products from top brands. The subscription won't look exactly like yours. There's no hot pink in sight, and there's a bigger emphasis on lifestyle items. You can expect everything from purifying cleansers to stubble-busting shave creams, plus awesome accessories like t-shirts, socks, and watches. Join the list now and we'll let you know when it's your turn to subscribe. If you've already subscribed to Birchbox Man then please ignore this email: Your box of goods is on the way!

Copyright © 2012 Birchbox You are a member of Birchbox Birchbox | 230 Park Ave S, 12th Fl | New York, NY 10003

Pinwheel Garland in 3 Steps!

Please visitCook Quilt Make and Bake to see the tutorial.

Pinwheel Garland

FREE Nook Book - Invisible (Humor)

Invisible (Ivy Malone Series #1)
by Lorena McCourtney

She's not your average crime fighter!

Meet Ivy Malone, an inconspicuous older woman who has a mutant curiosity gene that often lands her in trouble. Unlike most women her age, she snoops and pries her gray-haired self into one hilarious escapade after another. So when vandals romp through the local cemetery, Ivy can't help but put her snooping eyes to work as she launches her own unofficial investigation.

Despite her unconventional sleuthing, Ivy soon becomes discouraged by her failure to turn up any solid clues. And after Ivy witnesses something ominous and unexplained, she can't resist putting her investigative powers to work again. Even the authorities' attempts to keep her out of danger and her nosy neighbor's match-making schemes can't slow Ivy down. But will the determination that fuels this persistent, spunky sleuth threaten her very safety?

"I laughed out loud. McCourtney's charming mystery debuts a voice both enchanting and startling."-Colleen Coble, author of Without a Trace

"McCourtney's skill at blending whimsy, quirks, and questions into a lead character makes Invisible a must read."-Lois Richer, author of Dangerous Sanctuary

"Invisible is a treat! Ivy Malone is a heroine with spunk and determination!"-Carol Cox, author of A Stitch in Time

Saturday, May 12 BYOB Link Party

Here are the "suggestions" for the Saturday BYOB(Bring Your Own Blog) link parties:

• ~ Please link up only your own projects, and link to the specific post, not your blog home page. No Etsy shops, round-ups or giveaways, please. I have a Giveaway Link up for those....
  
  
  
• ~ Please grab an Honestly, Dyea  BYOB button below and include it somewhere in the post you’re linking on your home page (a text link is great too!) This helps out bof-us (you and me)!!
• ~ I reserve the right to remove posts that do not follow the rules. I will also put a curse on you that will include the fleas of a thousand camels and your underwear, so play nice!

• ~ Stay and mingle (remember, it’s a party!), and leave a couple comments for other guests! Check out their blogs and find new favorites!
• ~Click here for tutorial on linking up

<a href="http://www.honestlydyea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p511/DyeaT/button-4-1.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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FREE Nook Book - Freaks

  Click Here for Free Nook Book         

In this free Rizzoli & Isles short story from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, author of The Silent Girl, a bizarre death comes with a supernatural twist. Homicide cop Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles have seen their fair share of mortal crimes, but the death of Kimberly Rayner may qualify as inhuman in more ways than one. When corpse of the emaciated seventeen-year-old girl is discovered next to an empty coffin in an abandoned church, mysterious bruises around the throat suggest foul play. Caught fleeing the scene is the victim's closest friend, Lucas Henry, an equally skeletal, pale teenager who claims he's guilty only of having a taste for blood-a craving he shared with Kimberly. But the victim's distraught father doesn't believe in vampires, only vengeance. And now, another life may be at risk unless Rizzoli and Isles can uncover the astonishing truth. Includes a special preview of Tess Gerritsen's new Rizzoli & Isles novel, The Silent Girl, on sale July 5. And don't miss the season premiere of TNT's hit series Rizzoli & Isles on July 11           

4th of July Tin Can Windsocks

I loved these Tin Can Windsocks from Random Thoughts of a Supermom.  I headed to the store for some red and white ribbon and then gathered up all my other supplies {old formula/coffee cans, blue spray paint, some twine, and white contact paper stars} at home.

The first step is to take all the paper off the outside of the cans.  Then use some old rags and the water hose to clean out the inside of the can.

Give each can a quick coat of blue spray paint and wait for them to dry.

After the paint was dry, take your projects inside to add stars and stripes. To keep the blue paint from getting on the table,use a paper plate to place under their can. Then get busy peeling the backs off your stickers and add them to the cans however you want.

Then cut the ribbon into strips about 15 inches long. I used a About a 30 foot roll of each color to cover four cans.

Using a hot glue gun add the strips of ribbon to the open end of the can alternating red and white.

After all the ribbon has been added, use a screwdriver and a hammer to make two holes in the bottom of the can. Then poke some twine through the holes and tie them on the inside.

After you make sure you hanger is secure, they are ready to decorate your yard or front porch in celebration of the 4th of July....very patriotic I must say:)

Things I Should Be Too Old to Enjoy

1.) Justin Bieber's post-pubscent release of Boyfriend

2.) "Fart" Noises ~ Not real toots but just things that make toot noises like scooting chairs, or vinyl seats or shoes.... I always laugh like a lunatic.

3.) Unexpected Butt Images

My daughter's chocolate milk... that IS funny!

4.) Disney Movies ~ 'Nuff said....

5.) Sidewalk Chalk ~ My daughter got some sidewalk chalk in her Easter basket this year.  I had forgotten how much FUN it was!  We covered the driveway with huge flowers, paw prints, balloons, footsteps, and even started on the wall next to the driveway!  It's still there because we've had no rain and I smile every time I pull in the driveway....

6.) Obnoxious Statements Touting My Arrogance ~

Mother's Day Newspaper

Honor Mom by publishing your own Mother's Day newspaper. Print the newspaper template onto ivory paper, fill in, and add a drawing or a photo.