Tickled Pink No. 146

Welcome to Tickled Pink! 

OK...seriously. I am not sure how this happened....

but my kids ONLY have 10 days left of school!

When do your kids get out of school? Are you ready?

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Last week was random around 504 Main!

 I played with DIY Hair Chalk (I am in LOVE!)
AND

Created vegetarian polenta eggplant stacks
AND

Participated in a Simple Service Project with my son to help end childhood hunger in the summer. Did you know only 1 out of 6 children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year continue to receive meals during the summer months. Low-income families with children face even more challenges during the summer when they stretch their food budget to provide additional meals for their children." quoted from Odwalla Hunger in the Summer

I urge you to rally, create a food drive, and help!

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Now for the really good stuff...
this week our SPOTLIGHT SELECTOR IS
 Megin from VMG206

Here is a bit about Megin!

I am a papercrafter, DIY'er and blogger using multi-media (paper, music sheets, book pages, digital, thrift store finds, furniture and paint) to create beautiful things.  A Seattle girl relocated to the Midwest who loves espresso, Burt's bees, cupcakes and bichon frisés. 

Be sure to check out some of Megin's great projects like her beautiful Downtown Abbey papercraft, or her tutorial on making a blog header, or her burlap ruffle wreath.
Just be sure to stop by say "Hi" to Megin!

Next week, Ruth from Farmgirl in My Heart
will be the Spotlight Selector.
Go on over and say hi!  
If you are interested in being a Spotlight Selector leave a comment or drop me an email! 

Just a note...you may see some bloggers getting featured more often. I am letting my Spotlight Selectors pick who they want...but we are trying to spread the love around!
 
I appreciate you coming by to linkup today! 
 (click on READ MORE to see the features and link up!)

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Odwalla and The Hunger in the Summer Project #Odwalla4Kids

Too many kids (and families) are hungry in America.

When school is out for the summer, many children

lose access to their free or reduced lunches and will be hungry.

There is something we all can do about it.

I am thrilled to write this sponsored post as part of

 Collective Bias®, Odwalla, and Champions for Kids.

Please read it and see what you can do to help.

"When school lets out for the summer, millions of children lose access to the school breakfasts, lunches and after school snacks they receive during the regular school year. Only 1 out of 6 children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year continue to receive meals during the summer months. Low-income families with children face even more challenges during the summer when they stretch their food budget to provide additional meals for their children."

quoted from Odwalla Hunger in the Summer

 

I have always realized that hunger is a real problem in America. As I had my own kids and they started school, I saw children in their classes struggling with these issues. It is heartbreaking and hard to not want to help in any way you can.

Last year my husband lost his job and has not worked since.

Luckily we are still able to provide food and shelter and safety for our children,

but it did make me stop and really think about how close so many people

are to being in a situation where they are struggling to provide for their families.

While my own children have not had to face this issue head on,

I know their are many children that go to the same school

who have and who continue to have real needs.

(This is an important issue, please READ MORE to see how you can help)

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Easy Polenta Eggplant Stacks (recipe) #FreshTake #Cbias

I like to play with food...

sometimes I get lucky and get paid to play with food

like in this sponsored post from Collective Bias 

where I used Kraft Fresh Take to create a simple recipe for an

Easy Eggplant Polenta Stack.

It is really good...don't miss it...keep on going for the recipe!

You know how you can sometimes get into a meal time rut?

Yep, I have been in one.

Seriously the kids are asking...every night, "That again?"

Between baseball and gymnastics, and homework, and life...and year end school activities...life is way crazy!

(Click on READ MORE for the yummy recipe! )

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DIY Hair Chalk (tutorial)

A few days ago we were at a friends house and one of the older girls

used hair chalk on my daughter (with permission of course!).

Jules loved it - thought is was the best thing ever.

I had no idea what it was.

I had seen the girls dye their hair with Kool Aid...

I had seen the cans of spray on stuff...but the chalk thing was new to me.

Of course I had to try it!

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Tickled Pink 145

Welcome to Tickled Pink! 

Happy Mother's Day!!!

How are you celebrating?

Guess what I did in honor of Mothers Day?

NOTHING!

At least on the blog.

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I did d a little research on vinegar. I love cleaning with it...and on HomeTalk I am curating a clipboard for Uncommon Uses for Vinegar.
If you have not visited Hometalk...you should!
And of course pop over follow me and check out the great uses for vinegar!

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Now for the really good stuff...
this week our SPOTLIGHT SELECTOR IS
 Tina from What We Keep

Hi everyone…I’m Tina from What We Keep.

I’m thrilled to be the guest selector for Holly at Tickled Pink this week.

Making the selections was difficult!  So many wonderful ideas were shared- and let’s talk about the food, shall we?

You girls linked up some delicious looking recipes.

I really enjoyed the time spent browsing and discovering new blogs.

 

I hope you’ll come by What We Keep and say hello!

 

I’m a southern girl and mom to three sons, two Corgis and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

I’ve been married a really looong time to my hubby, whom I lovingly refer to as Mr. Magoo.

I love blogging and taking photos.  I’m in chalk paint everyday lately and my sewing room is almost completed.

I embroider and sew and love to cook …
and if you know me already, then you know that I’m a big goofball.

My favorite thing to do is laugh.  Mostly at Magoo. ;)

 

Thanks so much for having me, Holly!
 You are always an inspiration and one of the sweetest girls in blog land.
(I did not pay her to say that! LOL!)

Be sure to check out some of Tina's great projects like her re-purposed window, or her pillow with a message, or her pretty refinished cabinet.
Just be sure to stop by say "Hi" and   share a few moments with her.

Next week, Megin from VMG206
will be the Spotlight Selector.
Go on over and say hi!  
If you are interested in being a Spotlight Selector leave a comment or drop me an email! 

Just a note...you may see some bloggers getting featured more often. I am letting my Spotlight Selectors pick who they want...but we are trying to spread the love around!
 
I appreciate you coming by to linkup today! 
 (click on READ MORE to see the features and link up!)

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Soda Fountain Cupcakes: 2 Delightful Flavors and the Easiest Recipe..EVER!

This post is about birthdays.

It is about cupcakes...really good cupcakes.

The recipe is really easy.

Trust me...don't skip it!

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Tickled Pink 144

Welcome to Tickled Pink!

How was your week?

Let's just cut to the chase...

Tomorrow moring I am sharing some

super cute,

super delicious,

and super easy cupcakes.

Be sure to come back in the am!

 

And here are some creations I came up with this week!
Sea Glass Pendants and a Mothers Day Corsage

Now for the really good stuff...this week our 
SPOTLIGHT SELECTOR IS
Julie from Julie is Coco and Cocoa

Hello! My name is Julie and I blog over at Julie is Coco and Cocoa. I'm a Mom, a knitter, and a crocheter. I love to share crafts, especially ones that have to do with yarn. I also love to eat, so there are occasional recipe posts. And of course there are plenty of pictures of my three rambunctious boys.

Let's have a peek at some of Julie's AMAZING projects!
French Knot Embroidery Flower

Cardigan ReFashion and a super fun Popsicle Stick Upcycle!

Next week, Tina from What We Keep by TLC
will be the Spotlight Selector.
Go on over and say hi!  
If you are interested in being a Spotlight Selector leave a comment or drop me an email! 

Just a note...you may see some bloggers getting featured more often. I am letting my Spotlight Selectors pick who they want...but we are trying to spread the love around!
 
I appreciate you coming by to linkup today! 
 (click on READ MORE to see the features and link up!)

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Mothers Day Corsage with Photo Center (tutorial)

Mothers Day is a simple day for my family.
Rather than racing off for a day at the spa to "escape" them,
this is a day I choose to embrace them...
after all that is what made me a mother.
We celebrate together, enjoy each others company, go strawberry picking,
 and maybe best of all...
I do get to sleep in while the family prepares a special breakfast!
I don't even ask for a gift...sleeping in is a gift in itself.

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How to Make a Sea Glass Pendant (Jewelry Tutorial)

I have been really excited about making jewelry.

It seems to have reignited by fashion designer roots.

I have made spoon pendants and shrinky dink bracelets...

and I am currently designing head pieces for a childrens fashion show

(insert a "squeal with delight!").

I have a few other tricks up my sleeve too...

but today I am going to show you one of my happy accidents...

and perhaps an

AMAZING MOTHER'S DAY GIFT!

(hint, hint)

Click on READ MORE for the rest of the tutorial!

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Tickled Pink 143

Welcome to Tickled Pink!

It was a crazy emotional week in my REAL life.
I think I say that every week...but every week it is something new!
Am I the only one??? I can't be right!? (please say right!)
...ANYWAY...
I did manage to make a  
healthy and delicious Kale, Avocado and Tomato Salad...
and the opposite extreme of that...Homemade Vanilla Syrup! 

Now for the really good stuff...this week our 
SPOTLIGHT SELECTOR IS
Meegan from What Meegan Makes
(head on down to the features to see her amazing selections!)

Next week, Julie from Coco and Cocoa 
will be the Spotlight Selector.
Go on over and say hi and you can link up over there too!  
If you are interested in being a Spotlight Selector leave a comment or drop me an email! 

Just a note...you may see some bloggers getting featured more often. I am letting my Spotlight Selectors pick who they want...but we are trying to spread the love around!
 
I appreciate you coming by to linkup today! 
 (click on READ MORE to see the features and link up!)

CONTINUE READING

Sweet Vanilla Goodness: How to Make Vanilla Syrup

I love drinking coffee and baking and eating. I also love experimenting with different flavors and different ways to flavor beverages and baked goods and such. I have been interested in using syrups to add a special something. I decided to start with Vanilla Syrup, after all I have quarts and quarts of homemade Vanilla Extract. This was pretty much the easiest thing I have ever tried (almost!) and it is a great addition to my morning coffee, fancy beverages, and whatever else strikes my fancy!

Seriously this is super easy!

Essentially you are making vanilla flavored simple syrup.

HOW TO MAKE VANILLA SYRUP

Ingredients
(easily doubled for more sweet vanilla goodness!)

• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cups Granulated Sugar
• 1-2 Tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract.I make my own Vanilla Extract
• 1-2 Vanilla beans slit lengthwise (I used beans from the extract)

Make It!

• Place the water, sugar, vanilla, and vanilla bean (slit lengthwise) in a medium sauce pan and slowly bring the mixture to a boil until the sugar is dissolved.
• Let cool, and transfer  the mixture and the bean to am airtight container (I use a mason jar).
• Store in the refrigerator. I cannot quite give you a time frame for how long it will keep because we use it up quickly...a month or two is my guess!

And...folks that is it all done!

Perfect for

BAKING, COFFEE, or TEA

What do you put in your coffee? Your tea? Your cookies? Your cocktails?

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre >

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