504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Tickled Pink No. 99

I am starting with Wholly Cow...again!
I spent last weekend at the Maker Faire working with Delta Faucet. I just gotta tell ya...their faucets are a-m-a-z-i-n-g (seriously...since I was schooled in plumbing and faucets last year, I have a new appreciation for all things faucets and water!)...and the people that work for and with Delta Faucet are pretty amazing too!
And, the Maker Faire is simply inspiring.

Then I returned to reality.
It was quick and hard.

This week one kiddo "graduates" from preschool and will become a sweet little Kindergartener, and the other from 5th grade to become a Middle Schooler.
This mama is a little emotional...and BUSY!
I bet you all are too...
Why is it that the end of the school year is so CRAZY!

I have no features today
(sorry)
it is highly unlikely I will have time to get them done this weekend
I may surprise you, but no promises!

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Please take some time this weekend to remember those who have served our country and continue to serve our country.

Have a GREAT weekend!

NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a poem...a fashion find...a favorite product...your favorite post...whatever makes your blog fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}

Grab a button HERE!
or here!

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PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS
1. Link up...whatever makes your blog fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!! I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not adhere to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button or TEXT link back to the post* {people need to know what the heck they are doing!}.
4. Please visit a couple other links!

TICKLED PINK Now Has Categories

I won't banish you if you mess up, but try to link appropriately, pretty please!

By linking up...you grant me permission to use a photo if you are featured. Proper credit will be given.

Craft, DIY, Decorate
crafting, diy, decor type links

Cook, Bake, Eat
stuff to eat, cook, drink, and bake

Read, Write, Share
posts you love, stories, favorite things, ideas to share

Bliss in a Cup #NaturalBlissWM

I have a lot of bad habits...
drinking too much coffee is one of them
BUT

buying too much coffee (from coffee houses) is another...
a B-I-G one.

I am not even going to think about the amount of money I spend.

But I am changing my ways.

I have a new single serve coffee maker

and now I have discovered Natural Bliss from Coffee-Mate.

These two little things are going to rock my world.

Finally I will get what I want:

Fresh hot coffee that is rich and creamy.

I have tried other creamers before, but never really found

my "Mr. Perfect" to share my morning, afternoon, and evening coffee with.
I also am not a big fan of preservatives and crazy ingredients I cannot pronounce.
I have used half and half and I do like coconut milk in my coffee,
but I like a little flavor as well...so I find myself adding in some flavor.

I recently had the opportunity to try Coffee-Mate's Natural Bliss.
With Natural Bliss, I can get the best of both worlds.
It is all natural with 4 simply scrumptious ingredients!
This is a coffee creamer perfect for me...
and I feel good serving it to my guests!

I set out to find Natural Bliss to add a twist to my regular coffee routine
and to satisfy my coffee-house-coffee cravings.
I explored all the different flavors
and other brands of both refrigerated and dry creamers.
There are some tasty selections...
but ultimately I ended up purchasing 3 of the four
Natural Bliss flavors at my local store:

Sweet Cream (only 35 calories)
Caramel (only 35 calories)
Low Fat Vanilla (only 20 calories!)

If you have not seen Natural Bliss in your store just shoot on over to the website to locate "Where to Buy" this.

And before you head out to get you Natural Bliss,
be sure to grab a coupon for $1 off 2 at Walmart.
Seeing, I am saving money already.

My daughter and I shopped around a bit.
I was quite amazed at the number of coffee creamers out there...

...but Natural Bliss was just calling my name.
I was anxious to try it.
Of course I needed to pick up some more coffee while I was at it!
Walmart has a really nice selection of coffee to choose from.

Check out all of my shopping trip on Google+ right here.

Of course I had some whipped cream to top it off!

Natural Bliss is a tasty addition to my coffee.
And I did mix things up a bit.
I also tried it with my mocha powder...
OH MY!
That was one creamy and rich cup of coffee...
the perfect afternoon treat!

I am testing out the flavors on some preschool moms -
there is nothing like 14 opinions, right?
But I for one, give Natural Bliss a big thumbs up...
and my favorite is....Sweet Cream.

I enjoy the creaminess it adds to my coffee,
but also appreciate the fact that I can pronounce all of the ingredients!

Tomorrow I will be testing out the flavors of the #NaturalBlissWM
on some other "unsuspecting" guests!
I will keep you updated!

So, how do you like your coffee?

You can get all of the nutritional information and other goodies right HERE!

Be sure to follow Coffee-Mate and Natural Bliss on Facebook!

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Christmas in May Thanks to The Scoop!

You all know I LOVE my coffee, right?

Well, here is a little tale of finding coffee happiness.

Back in December, my hubby was watching the Today show

and he saw something that he knew I would like.

...

We had been "discussing" the pros and cons of single serve coffee makers for awhile.

I really, really wanted one...but I could not wrap my head around the idea of those pods/cups/whatever you want to call them. It just seemed wasteful.

So, back to the Today show...

on that particular day, they were demonstrating a single serve coffee maker

from Hamilton Beach,

The Scoop!

Hubby heard the magic words...

"You can brew your own coffee!"

Hubby paid attention...

this is just what we were looking for!

And it was a SUPER-good price.

Hubby did not buy it.

He waited to ask me if I wanted it.

Crazy man - it was half-price!

It sold out...

pretty much everywhere.

Still no single serve coffeemaker for Holly.

I torture hubby about this decision, er procrastination, daily.

Now it is April and I am Heading off to New York from Sandra Lee's Summer Carnival...still without my single serve coffeemaker.

As part of the trip we headed to a Sears and Hamilton Beach

was doing demonstrations with their

Counter Top Oven, the Open Ease Automatic Jar Opener,

The Scoop, and their newest flash of brilliance,

The Scoop Two-Way Brewer

(brew a pot of single cup of coffee in one machine....LOVE!)

I got all dreamy-eyed and, of course, told everyone my story,

including Hamilton Beach.

Hubby may never live this down.

Fast forward a few weeks...and what do I get...

The Scoop delivered to my door.

That is my Christmas in May!

Can I tell you how much I LOVE The Scoop.

I use it multiple times a day.

See I LOVE coffee and I like my coffee fresh and hot...

this is like heaven!

It is simple as can be to use (and no extra waste!)

Grab your favorite ground coffee - yes your own favorite real ground coffee!

Scoop it up and place it in the machine.

Fill with water.

Place you cup in the right spot.

Select Regular or Bold brew,

and wait a few minutes for an amazing cup of coffee!

That's what I'm talking about!

So I am absolutely enjoying The Scoop and my coffee and so are my friends...

I love serving them a fresh cup every time they come over.

My favorite mug, The Scoop...and of course there is whip cream!

I like my coffee with a little mocha powder and whipped cream.

How do you like yours?

A BIG thank you to Hamilton Beach for making my Christmas complete!

Disclosure: Hamilton Beach provided The Scoop to me under no obligation to blog/promote it. I LOVE this single serve coffee maker and feel the need to tell ya! The blog post, opinions, and story are my own.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Bloggy Olympics Torch Pass

Guess what?

The 2012 Summer Olympics are coming soon and we are so excited!

- My son was obsessed during the last Olympics

and since it is such a special event we extend

bed time hours so he can watch! -

To help get in the spirit of the Olympics and to add a bloggy spin

of our own we will be hosting a 6 week Bloggy Olympics!

Here's the Scoop!

There will be 18 different blogs participating over 6 weeks and 6 events from

June 9th- July 21st. Each week 3 blogs will share a simple tutorial that you can copy or will get you thinking about that event’s theme. At the end of the week they will host a 3 blog linky party for you to link up your finished event projects. And of course there will be features, giveaways, and fun Olympic stuff!

The Opening Ceremony begins Thursday, June 7th and runs until Friday, June 8th at midnight. Come link up your blog if you are planning on joining in an event for the “Bloggy Olympics”. Our Olympic event schedule is: decorating (Event 1), kitchen (Event 2), paint (Event 3), crafts (Event 4), fabric (Event 5), and outdoors (Event 6). Join 1 event or plan on joining all!

Doesn’t that sound like fun!? So, I am not going to tell you everything…you have to click through that Torch Passing Button down there to see what everyone is doing…

BUT I can tell you what event I am taking the challenge for….

Outdoor: Event 6
Weekof July 14th

Hosted by: 504 Main, Directions Not Included , Smallgood Hearth

Isn’t that just perfect!?

It will be summer, an we will all be dreaming of hanging out in the sunshine. OK, I must be honest I won’t be enjoying the sunshine…because it is NOT sunny here in the summer. Guess I will have to create my own sunshine with my project! I actually do love “playing outdoors” it is sometimes hard to believe it is summer here when you are drinking hot chocolate by the pool while wearing your fleece! I am so not kidding!

Well, that said, let’s see what I can come up with, eh?

Bloggy Olympics schedule

(more details coming)

Decorating-Event 1, week of June 9th

Kitchen-Event 2, week of June 16th

Paint-Event 3, week of June 23rd

Craft- Event 4, week of June 30th

Fabric- Event 5, week of July 7th

Outdoor: Event 6, week of July 14th

Now What?

Friday, June 8th - "opening ceremony"

Thursday evening at 7pm CST we will open a BLOG linky party.

There are some FAB bloggers participating, so I highly encourage you
to click on the "Next Torch Holder" button
and visit them all so you can learn a little about them and the event.
(more details to come here too)

RIGHT NOW!
(almost)
When you get to Hating Martha there is a giveaway!
Look at these CUTE pillows from Kijsa

Now, here is a bit about me and my craziness

I am a native So Cal girl currently residing along the foggy coast of the Monterey Peninsula. If I tell you all the careers I have had, then I must tell you my real age is 105 (I look good for 105, right?). I was a fashion designer…then wedding planner/wedding expert…currently an author (of real books that you can buy in a bookstore, the latest being “The Everything Vegan Wedding Book,” )…now I add blogger to the list.

I have ALWAYS been a DIYer, crafter, “why read the directions?” kind of gal. I grew up in a family with a “do-it-yourself” philosophy, so naturally I have made designing, crafting, and DIYing an integral part of my life.

From glitter to plate joining biscuits to a jig saw – I love it all!

I am perpetually disorganized and have a TON of bad habits.

I am working on these issues.

Hey, at least I know I have them!

I believe in saying “please” and “thank you” and “excuse me.”

Let’s bring back politeness and kindness!

(this is my current soap box topic)

What’s on the horizon?

How much time do you have?

There is always something popping up!

A new (creative) book, a new master bathroom, and building some furniture!

So, that is me…what about you…Get involved

and give each challenge a go and let us know about you!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tickled Pink No. 98

I am starting with
Wholly Cow!
(again...because I earned it...and I bet you all did too!)
All of those projects and crafty ideas and cool events I do and go to...
well, that takes a lot of time away from the house.
I have lots of weeds, no flowers, a full garage
(yes, you may remember I did start to clean it out),
too much lawn in some areas and not enough in others.
Trim to be painted, ceilings to be painted...
floors to be polished, messes to be cleaned.
And I need to do it NOW!
So I will be co-hostessing with Katy for the next few weeks...
but it is highly unlikely I will have time for Features...
but Katy will!
So Katy is the place to check out the features.
I may surprise you, but no promises!
*****************************
Be sure to stop by The DIY Club!
There is still a day or two left to enter the May Project Party

and we also have Project Pinterest happening!
Our theme is Summer Lovin'

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FEATURES!

I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone
who links up, reads, and visits. I truly appreciate it.

Feel free to share the link on my Facebook Wall.

If I feature you on Facebook or twitter, be sure to grab a button HERE too!

Love the Dollar Store fix on Fox Hollow's cabinet!

Gorgeous Backlit Canvas Art from The Scrap Shoppe

I am a sucker for weddings...and pillows. Love these from Woven Home

Perfectly pink polka dots from A Home, Made

Look at these darling butterfly pretzels treats form Yesterday on Tuesday

A good ole brownie recipe and the sweetest tribute
to her mother from BJ at Sweet Nothings

I have 28 lbs of strawberries...
I am making these Strawberry Rhubarb muffins from Miss Organics Kitchen

Sowing seed with Sew and Dippity! Lets get planting!

Have a GREAT weekend!

NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

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