Home Goods Shopping Inspiration

One of my dreams recently came true, and our first Home Goods store rolled into town! I stalked that place for a good month before the opening...it almost came to me pressing my face against the glass like a starved street urchin. I lucked out and was able to attend the Sneak Peek event before Grand Opening because a friend of mine received an invite and let me tag along! I thought it would be fun to show you guys some of the fun things I spotted on my shopping trip.

Excuse the iPhone/point and shoot pics...I didn't want to bring my dslr in the store and look suspicious taking photos. Thanks goodness the Home Goods folks tweeted me and gave me the all-clear for future in-store photo opps. (wink)

This is the face of a super excited blogger waiting for the Sneak Peek to start. I wasn't excited at all.

As budget friendly as this place is, I still didn't have much money to spend (cue poor girl violin music here), but that didn't mean I couldn't window shop, right? I could be excited about that.

My first and favorite find was this vintage-inspired ice chest on wheels. The blue might not work with my current deck set-up, but it is so fun!

Speaking of the great outdoors, these seating options for little ones made my heart skip a beat, and I loved the colorful beach towels displayed in kiosks throughout the store.

The fun decorative pillows and artwork called my name like a siren...

Pretty chairs...clean lines with fun upholstery.

This child-size chair in pink and gray chevron print about broke my heart with its preciousness:

Some of the loveliest lamps e-ver!

And a wonderful mix of colorful and classic serving pieces, outdoor accessories, and other odds and ends.

Truly, if decorating is something you enjoy, this is a hot spot. If money were no object, it would be easy to walk through a Home Goods store and redecorate a room...they simply have it all! I can't wait to save up and shop again. Until then, you may just run into me in one of the aisles. 

In full disclosure...this was not a paid or sponsored post! Home Goods had no idea who I was until they saw my frantic, ecstatic Tweets online. I'm happy to be on their radar now because this store is quickly becoming one of my go-to spots for home decor inspiration! Many of us are on budgets these days; times are tough...so when I spot a good bargain and some great ideas, I always aim to share them with you!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button, or even a +1 for Google+. 

Car Activity Bags (Travel Tips)

We've actually done some travelling this Spring, and have a couple more trips to go this summer, so I feel prepared to show you guys our Car Activity Bag and a few other ideas to keep your car stocked with for those long hours of travel.

I actually keep this in the Swagger Wagon all the time. It's a Thirty One Bag with our last name stitched on one side...makes it easier to keep track of!

Natalie and Michaela Byrd each take ballet lessons once a week, so one sister is inevitably stuck waiting in the minivan with me while the other sister takes over the dance floor in the studio. Between dance lessons, waiting for kindergarten pick-up, and other occasional days we might have some time to kill, this bag gets a good work-out.  

What's inside?

-Coloring Books

-Crayons

-Books

-Electronic Learning Games

-"Dry Erase" Pads

It sits right in between the rear seats, so it's accessible to all the kids:

These are awesome for around-town stops, but for genuine road trips, we add some extras to our car!

We stock a stretchy canvas bag with Barbies, books, and a travel case that holds some DVDs. We save our DVD player for any trips that last longer than an hour. That way, the movies are more of a treat; and there's no screaming when we drive 5 miles from our house to Target and they're not finished watching Barbie: A Fashion Fairy Tale.

While DVDs are great and guarantee you some quiet time, you certainly don't want to end the trip with a pair of glossy-eyed zombies in your backseat. I borrow books on tape from the library, and it "forces" them to sit and use their imaginations for awhile. Even my four year old will sit quietly, listening to the story and laughing at the silly parts. You'd be surprised at what they can comprehend!

Some of our favorites have been Beverly Cleary's Henry Huggins, the American Girl Felicity stories, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Mr. Popper's Penguins. We finished up Little House on the Prairie last week, and they were riveted the entire time. The classic books are great for teaching your kids about how people lived in a different time.

In our minivan, each child starts the trip with a snack container filled with goldfish, pretzels, or something along those lines. They have water bottles that we refill when we stop for lunch or gas. I also have a secret emergency cracker stash and a few lollipops for those times when you're stuck in traffic and the kids are screaming and you feel like you might lose it. (What? Is that just me?)

For mom?

I like to have a few magazines, a book, and my smart phone on hand in the front seat. I like to say that I use the navigation on the iPhone, but really I just like to look at Pinterest and/or listen to my playlist while T drives. I don't pack anything of interest for him, because his main concern is really how many hours it will take to get us there, and will we throw his time off with numerous bathroom stops?

If you're traveling with a dog, I recommend getting a doggie water bottle from a local petshop. I picked up this one from PetsMart years ago, and I love the compact size. I fill it with ice and water before we leave the house, and our Emma doesn't get thirsty at pit stops.

For younger kids, getting a little bucket or plastic bin with small, inexpensive toys and books that they've never seen before is usually enough to occupy them. And don't feel guilty for letting little guys watch some extra movies...sometimes that's the only way to keep them from screaming for hours on end (don't ask me how I know). 

So...that's the way this family does road trips. Our 13 hour drive down to Orlando went smoothly with some planning and preparation. I hope yours is just as smooth!

How do you plan ahead for occupying the family during long drives?

**You can find a list of audio book suggestions for kids in this post!**


If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

Linking to Home Stories A to Z, Positively Splendid

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

Good morning, friends. If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

I like to Feature bloggers who not only have great projects, but who also take the time to  link back to me within their post(s). I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook!

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye.

*Pinterest users, please Pin from the original sources listed below so that each blogger gets credit for his/her own work!*

~Screened Porch Updates via Imparting Grace

~Mini Raspberry Cheesecake Dessert Cups via Cookin Up Good Times

~Sunny Shoe Storage via Visual Meringue

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

Happy Saturday! Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. More Features on the way tomorrow!

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, tips and tricks, fashion advice, book reviews, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far.

***PLEASE, If you are a Pinterest user, Pin from the original source so that each blogger gets credit for his/her work.***

~How to Upholster a Wooden Bench via Inside-Out Design

~Make Over an Office Chair with a Cotton Throw Rug via In My Own Style

~Bomb Cupcake Pops via Parties for Pennies

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. I hope you'll link up your best post of the week today, and maybe leave me some comment love. Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

All kinds of posts are welcome--recipes, crafts, funny stories, home decor, etc.; but please do not link to Etsy shops, businesses, items for sale, etc. (I have a Sponsors section, if you'd like to Advertise with me.)

Here are a few of my faves from this week:

sources listed below

~Finding the Right Light (Photography Tip) via Sweet C's Designs

~DIY Paper Peonies via Twigg Studios

~Lemonade Stand Party via bloom designs

~Patriotic Bandanna Wreath via Sweet Pea

~And Me? This week featured:

• How to Clean and Paint Vintage Patio Furniture
• Stuffed Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheeseburger
• How to Add Your Post to a Blog Party 
• Hair Bow Maker!
  

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Hair Bow Maker!

If you have little girls, or know someone who has little girls, or if you ever were a little girl, you know that hair accessories are a big part of life. All it takes is one look at our Picture Frame Hair Bow Organizer and you know  the girls and I are hair bow junkies. The problem is that hair bows can be pricey! When a rep from The Ribbon Retreat asked if I'd like to try out their Hair Bow Maker and Bow Making Instructions, I readily agreed.

Several years ago, I ordered a set of bow making instructions from eBay, and I found all the pictures and words hard to follow. The fact that The Ribbon Retreat's instructions come with a CD-ROM of pdf and video instructions was so so helpful! It was 100% easier for me to stick the CD into my laptop and run the video as I worked with the supplies.

I chose a fun "Gumball Blast" ribbon mix to work with (they have dozens of fun sets, many in Gymboree colors) and simply followed the video to work with the bow maker and create a simple boutique bow. I've tried and tried to make one before, but the ribbon just seems to loop around my fingers and make a big mess. 

The bow maker (plus a handy clothes pin) made it so much easier! It's a sturdy little platform, and you use two dowels, plugging them in at various spots, depending on the bow you want to make. Genius!

After I finished the boutique bow, I started playing with the other ribbon patterns and decided to layer them up. I took a peek at the instruction pdf and used them as a general guide for ideas. 

I can't show you a step-by-step since the instructions are a paid item, but I can show you some snap shots of the process. This is what I came up with!

My first "client" seems happy enough!

I'll be using the Hair Bow Maker again for sure to make fun accessories for my girls. It would make a wonderful gift paired with the instructions for a creative mom you know! Thanks to The Ribbon Retreat for letting me have fun testing out your supplies.

My Weekend Bloggy Reading link party will open tomorrow morning at 8 am ET. Bring your best post of the week to share!

Here's the button code for the party if you want to get a head start! Recipes, crafts, home decor, book reviews, funny stories, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.

<a href=" http://www.serenitynowblog.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a>

*I received the bow making supplies from the Ribbon Retreat, but was not financially compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. 

How to Add Your Post to a Blog Party (Blog Tips)

Today brings post #10 in my How to Blog Party series, which is written for new and experienced bloggers...lots of tips and tricks for joining and hosting a blog/link party. You can click here to start at the beginning of the series and see a round-up of all the posts so far. I promise that how-tos and suggestions for hosting a link party will begin soon! Last time, we talked about how to choose a photo for your thumbnail.

This week's topic is: How to Add Your Post to a Blog Party

If you've been blogging for awhile, adding links to blog parties is old news, but you'd be surprised by how many emails I get from bloggers who want to know how they can join in the fun too.

Today, I'll walk you through the process in a simple step-by-step. You'll be ready to link up in no time!

We'll use my post on updating vintage patio furniture as an example. Let's pretend that I want to link it up to a blog party this week.

The first step is knowing the difference between your blog's main URL and your post's permalink!

1. Your blog's main URL (pictured below) is your homepage. Your blog's main address!

2. Each one of your posts has a permalink, which is a specific address just for that post. Here's what it looks like:

In Blogger, you can show the permalink of your post by clicking on the title...the homepage address disappears and the address for your single post will pop up!

Why do I need to use the permalink to my post when I join a blog party? Why can't I just add my homepage?


1. Blog party hostesses ask you to link to your permalink (instead of your homepage) so that you can direct readers straight to the post you want them to check out. It also saves hostesses time in choosing features.

2. If the party has a specific theme, readers do not want to scroll through pages of your blog looking for a post about a birthday party. Readers are busy. Rather than search through your blog, they will click away to another site.

3. Months after the party, readers will still be clicking on blog party links. If they're looking for a specific post that you've "advertised" in your thumbnail photo, they won't want to scroll through months of posts to find it.

Here's how to add a Permalink to a blog party!

Now that I have my permalink ready, I just right click and copy the address and hit the blue "Add Your Link Here" button.

Next, I paste in my permalink where the box says "URL." I also type in the title of my project in the "Name" section, and I add my email address before hitting "Next Step!"

After I hit "Next Step!" I always choose the option to have the photo selected from my blog post. I scroll down to where the photos are located and I choose the best one and hit "Crop."

When my photo is selected, I choose the area I want to crop and then hit the "crop the selected area" button:

Inlinkz will redirect you back to the blog party and sometimes you'll see a little "we're still processing your image" message like this one:

If you refresh your screen once or twice, it goes away and you'll see your thumbnail!

Now you're all linked up...wasn't that easy?!

I hope you found these tips helpful! I haven't had a great response from this series, but I'll continue to post for now because I feel like it's information that may be useful to new bloggers down the line. If it's helped you out, please let me know. Comments are so encouraging!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I'd love for you to click the "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or +1 me for Google+.