Twelve years after the romantic comedy The Holiday hit theaters, and nearly a decade since I first wrote about it, the houses from that movie continue to be one of the most popular searches on my blog. Cameron Diaz played Amanda, a woman who lived in this fabulous Mediterranean mansion in L.A. The interiors for this house in The […]
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*This post is sponsored by Custom Ink. It’s seriously the best place to go for all types of custom shirts and gear for your club, team, or family reunion.
I like to joke that I got a coaching minor in college so that I could hang out and play sports most of the day. As it turns out, that coaching minor has turned out super handy as a mom. I’ve been able to coach my kids in nearly every sport: soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, even my son’s little league baseball team. The pay is next-to-nothing (okay, it’s nothing), but the payoff is huge!
I love kids and I love seeing what team sports does to them.
As a truncated version of a conversation I could really go off on—team sports is so great for kids! I’ve seen firsthand how it boosts their confidence, strengthens friendships (and helps them make new ones), and shows kids that they can do hard things.
This is my little volleyball team and man am I proud of them. Most of these girls started out knowing nothing about volleyball, but had a willingness to learn and a spirit of positivity.
My favorite is the cheer they made up to chant before every game:
It’s our team name and they wear it proudly.
These adorable custom tees came from Custom Ink.
If you’ve got a club, team, group, class, event, or family reunion that needs custom products, Custom Ink has got you covered!
Their product catalog is impressive; they’ve got everything from t-shirts, to sweatshirts, to hats, bags, jerseys, water bottles and much more.
Think of all the possibilities for fun custom gear—senior class shirts, field trips, 50th wedding anniversaries, family trips, school spirit shirts (you can even find your school mascot here!)—literally anything you can think of, Custom Ink can do.
Pricing is super reasonable and if you don’t have the time or the creativity (in my case both) to design a specific product, Custom Ink’s design lab already has a huge selection to choose from.
All I did to design these shirts was select the t-shirts I wanted, then plug in our team name to the design lab. About two seconds later, it pulled up row upon row of the cutest options.
The only problem was trying to choose which one I liked best!
The team sent me a preview of my design before it went to print so there would be no mistakes, and then before I knew it, the box arrived with the cutest team tees for my Volley Girls.
If you’ve got a daughter, sign her up for a team sport. I’ve witnessed the change that happens to girls when they become part of a team. They blossom, they thrive, and they gain a confidence that wasn’t there before they started.
And if you have any custom product needs, check out Custom Ink. The company is incredible to work with and the products are top-notch. The possibilities for custom gear are endless (I bet you can think of something right now that custom tees would be perfect for!).
Check out the K-12 School Design Templates at Custom Ink. You’ll find the most adorable pre-made designs for band, choir, student council, prom, and more.
I wish I’d knows about Custom Ink a long time ago!
Go to CustomInk.com to find your group’s custom creation.
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***This post was sponsored by our friends at Etsy and ShopStyle, but all opinions are our own! We all shop and ADORE Etsy and supporting all those small business owners there!**
I woke up this morning, a little in shock when I felt the cold air hit me as I stepped out of bed. No doubt, Fall is upon us, and though I’ll miss the warm Summer nights, there’s something to be said about those crisp evenings surrounded by family.
Soups.
Leaves.
Apple Cider.
Cozy Sweaters.
Halloween.
Pies, and everything pumpkin.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t all get me super excited!
Every year, around this time of year, my kids and I work together to empty the tubs of Fall decor from our garage. I love seeing their childlike excitement as we decorate our house for the upcoming season. Long gone are the bright teals, greens and pinks of Summer decor and instead, we welcome the rich orange, reds and yellows of Fall. (Mixed with the black and white of Halloween decor!)
Here are 5 simple tips to getting your house Fall ready and a few of our favorite Fall Etsy finds that are bound to get noticed!
1. Pick a color scheme.
Stick with a traditional orange/black for Halloween. Choose a more cream/brown neutral palette. Whatever your jam, is stick with that scheme throughout your house so all the decorations are cohesive and flow. Banners are a really fun way to add that color scheme throughout your house. They’re festive, while still being subtle. I found the gingham banner HERE and felt ball banner HERE. (Will felt ball banner ever get old!? NEVER!) They’re perfect for the Halloween season, but I think you could even use them for a birthday party or themed party any time of year! They’re truly easy to incorporate anywhere! Plus, Who can say no to black and white gingham!?
2. Consider and use a variety of “levels” of decor.
Don’t just sit decor on your shelves, but rather, use your ceiling, back of the piano, or even the floor. I hung these bats from the light fixture in my kitchen and I think it’s a fun touch! Get that decor noticed at eye level, but create levels so eyes are drawn everywhere! These bats are the same I used on my porch. They’re great quality and easy to decorate with in OR out! I also brought in another felt ball garland and hung that. I like to use similar decor in different areas. It again, makes things a little more cohesive.
3. Decorate inside AND outside.
Of course every notices the insides of your house when they come over, but MORE people see the outside of your house. Don’t be afraid to take the decor OUTSIDE. I love these darling bats hung from the porch. They’re subtle, but get noticed. Every time someone drives or walks by my house. Those little, whimsical and slightly creepy guys get noticed!
These specific ones are made for outside, so they hold up better. You can get some for your house HERE.
4. Pillows, pillows, pillows.
Pillow are a cost effective way to decorate for the changing seasons/holidays. It’s so easy to throw a new pillow case on a pillow and go. Those pillows don’t have to be JUST on the couch! Stick some on the chairs outside or even on a mantle. One fun way to make things special for your kids is to even throw a few holiday throw pillow on their BED!
This darling “spooky” pillow was found HERE.
5. Shop Etsy for all your Fall (and holiday!) decor.
I can not tell you how much time and effort Etsy saves me. There are SO many darling things to choose from – from minds MUCH more creative than mine! Etsy is my go to for handmade seasonal decor. But warning, once you start looking around, you won’t be able to stop.
Now, I’m just going to sit back and wait for those trick or treaters!
Happy decorating!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to shop through our links, we may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!
The post 5 Tips for Easy Fall Decor appeared first on How Does She.
I’m sure I’m not alone – you can never have enough Halloween decorations right? I have this massive Halloween town – it takes up an entire wall and I love it so.
But my wheels started turning and I decided to make a miniature version of a chalkboard Halloween town I could use on my mantle.
I created a template from my large Halloween Town and you can download it here. Save the PDF to your desktop and open it in Acrobat reader. When you print it you can select the pages to be tiled – or you can take the document to staples and have it printed.
You don’t have long before Halloween – its time to get started! And then of course send me pictures of your awesome creations!
See more of my adventures and projects at www.lifewithfingerprints.com
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Oregon Chai®. The opinions and text are all mine. Ahhhh! Fall is in the air! My kids have just gone back to school and...
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This post is sponsored by Walmart and She Knows Media Wow did summer fly by! Doesn’t it seem like no matter what your age, summer break never lasts long enough? If I could have it my...
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It’s crock pot season! We whipped out our crock pot on the very first day of fall and made a delicious meal. Today I’m sharing the BEST crock pot pumpkin spice latte recipe EVER… This...
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My husband and I love attending concerts. Music is a big part of our relationship and we’d much rather spend money on a concert experience than going out to dinner. As my husband puts it: You just poop out that fancy food anyway.
We’ve seen quite the gamete of performers: Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, Jay-Z, The All-American Rejects, Maroon 5, and many, many more. What never ceases to amaze me is the same types of people that show up to every single concert. No matter what genre…country, hip-hop, rock…there are always these five people in attendance.
You’ll know this person immediately because he’ll be wearing a worn band t-shirt that’s snug as a teddy bear and looks a little like Swiss cheese. It may smell like cheese too if you get close enough. The die-hard fan knows every single lyric. To every single song. She shouts them out as she sways and dances along. The die-hard fan is the first one to arrive and the last one to leave.
The die-hard fan is actually pretty great to be standing by. They bring a contagious energy and are almost as entertaining as the main stage.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s always the person who doesn’t know the band and either scored free tickets from work or is on a blind date. Simply put, they are just along for the ride. To the avid concert goer, this person is a charlatan, a stick-in-the mud. They may try to bop along to the music, but their heart isn’t in it. They’re usually on their phone halfway in and if you offered a stick to prop them up, they’d take it.
The concert attendee who’s just along for the ride is a buzz-kill. If you ever happen to score free tickets to a band you don’t really know, do everyone a favor and either listen up before hand or at least pretend you’re having a good time.
It’s always a pleasant surprise to see the granny with her cane or the white-haired, wrinkled man at a concert that you’d never peg them for. And they’re having a great time! Extremes aside, never fail, at every single concert I’ve ever been too, there are always a few “mature” concert-goers that are dancing just as hard as the young ‘uns.
I’ll never forget the old man at a Jay-Z concert we attended. He must have been in his 80s and was bobbing his head to the beat the entire concert, a grin plastered to his face the whole time.
If you’re never too old to enjoy a concert, you’re never too young either. My fourth child attended a Macklemore concert in the womb. At six months pregnant, I could feel him squirming inside me as the music pulsed and vibrated. Maybe that’s why at now three-years-old he’s the best dancer in the family.
At pretty much every concert I’ve attended, there’s always someone who brings a baby. I’ve seen little ones strapped to their mamas wearing noise-protection earmuffs and toddlers riding their papa’s shoulders jumping along to the music.
Finally (unless you’re attending MoTab), the one person you are 100% guaranteed to run into at a concert is the guy or gal who came to party. You’ll know this person for their slurred lyrics and zombie dance moves. I’ve seen a man dancing with a dog, have had my shoe puked on, and walked a mile and a half back to our campsite at the Gorge Amphitheater in what felt like a scene from The Walking Dead.
Just remember when it comes to concerts, one man’s drunken dog dance is another woman’s story to tell.
Concerts may not be for everyone, but for me, they are some of my favorite experiences. What’s cool is that all different kinds of people come out to enjoy music and have a good time. It’s a commonality you have with people you’d probably never meet otherwise.
My outlook on the types of people who attend concerts is mirrored by these great Ben Harper lyrics: “Your choice is who you choose to be; and if you’re causin’ no harm, then you’re alright with me.”
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It’s the first day of fall! Who else has been excited about this day? We’ve been looking forward to the cooler mornings and evenings. I love seeing the trees begin to turn and the air...
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Holy cow! Avon is on a roll!
We have been completely blown away by Avon’s launch of new high-end products but without the high-end pricing. (Have you tried our favorite lash serum yet?) If you haven’t tried Avon lately, you have been missing out. Avon is bold, beautiful, and revolutionary!
The Anew line by Avon is absolutely everything you want from luxury beauty products that are actually affordable. In fact, we’ve partnered with Avon to announce the exciting launch of a brand new upscale skincare line—Anew Hydra Fusion—and it’s making a splash in the beauty world!
Meet Avon’s Anew Hydra Fusion Skin Care Line. It’s a dream team of five power-packed skincare products that are specifically designed to infuse your skin with deep and lasting hydration.
Did you know dry skin is a common cause of acne and dark spots? Dry skin can cause microscopic fissures in your skin that allow bacteria and even dry skin flakes to clog up your pores, thus resulting in breakouts. The reason for your adult acne may be due to dry skin and one way to cure that is with an effective skin care regimen like the Avon Anew Hydra Fusion line. It comes in:
This is super cool and a standout in the Hydra Infusion line. Avon’s In-Shower Mask is a unique approach to the traditional face mask. It’s great in the morning for fresh-feeling skin but without the hassle of a tedious mask. You simply splash the liquid mat on your cleansed skin and your face feels hydrated all day long. Price point is awesome on this product and it lasts forever!
The perfect match to the in-shower mask is the Cleansing Micellar Water, which is like a mild toner that gently lifts dirt, makeup, and impurities. This is highly recommended if you have acne-prone skin and need that extra cleanse without drying your face out. And check out the price tag…such an amazing deal!
No one likes those under eye bags or lines. Combat it with Avon’s super-hydrating De-Puffing Eye Serum—a fast-absorbing formula that instantly helps de-puff and hydrate your delicate under-eye areas and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Next, apply the Anew Replenishing Serum, which is a must for optimal skin. A lot of women aren’t even aware of the power of serums, and Avon is the first to bring cutting-edge microbe able technology to the market with this little firecracker! And again, the price on this serum is way less than so many others out there (you typically pay around $40 and this serum is nearly half that!). If you’re not using a serum yet, start now!
Lastly, top off your hydrating facial with the Anew Hydra Fusion line is the water-like gel cream. This advanced moisturizer contains raspberry antioxidant and goes on so soft and absorbent that it feels so heavenly.
Screaming Deal Alert: There is a limited time promo through oct 15th for the cream and serum together for $35 if you can call that out ($72 value). That is an amazing deal!
Avon has really done it again! Bringing us premium products with affordable prices. The Anew Hydra Fusion line is amazing and way more affordable than many other regimens (and there are some out there that are insanely expensive). Check it out here!
Glimmersticks–3 for $9–So fun for lips and eyes!
Unlimited Lashes Duo deal—an INSANE deal for Avon’s amazing lash serum (it totally works!) and Love at First Lash mascara. Seriously, snag this deal up before it’s over!
mark. By Avon Pout Lip Paint–A few of our girlfriends RAVE about this stuff. Like it’s their favorite lip gloss ever. Ever.
*A special thank-you to Avon for sponsoring this post! All opinions are our own.
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UTV plowing deep snow How much snow can a UTV push? Let's see if it can plow 8" of heavy wet snow on long runs over a gravel drive...
