Scatter Girls- Get Involved in the Fun!

Hi Friends! 

I am thrilled to announce that I'm collaborating with Gina and Chrissy on a new all things handmade blog called Scatter Girls.


Our official Launch Week is July 11-15, 2011. 

We have an outstanding week planned but want the week to include YOU!

Interested in getting involved?! Amazing! 

If you are interested in participating in Scatter Girls, please take a moment to fill this out and we will contact you within the next few days to solidify plans.

CLICK HERE OR FILL FORM OUT BELOW USING TAB BUTTON

Pina Coladas

I "met" Nelly on Twitter and I feel like I've known her for ages. She is the kindest and most talented individual and I'm so happy whenever I can share her with all of you. Nelly is an amazing writer (catch her blogging at Cooking with Books) and she is one fantastic baker. I'm going to stop blabbing about Nelly and just let her take it away...


"If you like Pina Coladas
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you'd like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the Cape
Then I'm the love that you've looked for
Write to me and escape."

-Rubert Holmes 

Hello Elephant Truck readers! It's me! Nelly, from Cooking with Books, this time with a refreshing summer drink we all love, Pina Coladas! No, not the uber-sweet, artificially flavored drink, but an all-natural, good for you Pina Colada! Unless you are currently on the other side of the world, or your state hasn't had a day over 50 degrees F, you'll appreciate and learn to love this natural nectar of the gods!

Pineapples are an amazing source of antioxidants, as well as Vitamin C! They'll keep your immune system in awesome shape, as well as a hundred and one more benefits. Drinking fresh pineapple juice, as well as munching on fresh pineapple chunks, is a great source for enzymes that will detox your system from all those nasty winter colds and spring flus. 

By adding coconut water, we're also adding flavor but not the sugars or fat normally found in coconut milk or coconut cream. Sure, if you want to indulge, by all means go ahead and use these. But amazingly enough, today I want to share a healthy drink that after a week or so of drinking, you'll feel much better. From personal experience, I've seen my skin become smoother and my energy levels have improved after drinking pineapple juice in the mornings. 

This recipe calls for specific ingredients, but is definitely adaptable to your taste. Add fresh, minced ginger for a spicy kick; sweeten with organic maple syrup for a nice finish; add another fruit for extra health! Just DO NOT sweeten with white, refined sugar; don't add bacon or bacon fat to it; and seriously, just don't think of adding ice cream. Unless you REALLY need to. Then, it's all on you and I am not held responsible for any situations (or pounds) that may arise. 

Pina Colada Drink

Ingredients

1 pineapple, peeled and cut into chunks

1 fresh coconut, with water removed (or a bottle of coconut water, just check ingredients!)

1 cup of ice

Method

1. In a blender, give the pineapple a spin. Do it in steps, not all of the pineapple will fit! Thin it down with the coconut water. 
2. If your blender can take it, add the ice and crush it, incorporating it into the drink.
3. If not, just serve in tall glasses with a slice of pineapple on the side and enough ice to cool you off.
4. After 5 o'clock, top with a shot of spiced rum, vodka, or your libation of preference.  

Wishing you all a happy Summer, filled with pool parties, barbeques, frozen drinks and iced coffee! Come visit me over at Cooking with Books for new summer recipes, as well as foodie giveaways all summer long!

Thanks Nelly! Now head over to Cooking with Books for a giveaway from little old me! 

Monogram Cork Letters

I first saw this idea pinned via this site on Pinterest and I knew that it was something that I had to do. This project was very easy and took a small amount of time to complete. I started off with a few pieces of cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby a B for Brendan and a L for Lauren. I then fired up my glue gun and was ready to go.

From there it was easy, I was given a large amount of corks from the fabulous Maegan of Chesterrific so I had lots of corks to work with and I just started to glue away. After all the corks were glued on the letters I had completed cork monograms! Thanks Maegan for the corks :)

Linking up to all the parties on my "Come Party with Me" tab.

Summer Safari: Recipes

It is the last link up of the Summer Safari and today's theme is recipes! I am linking up my Mexican Lasagna recipe over at The Funky PolkaDot Giraffe. Have you posted about a recipe lately or want a few ideas for what to cook this summer while everyone is home? Head on over to the Funky PolkaDot Giraffe and take a peek at some of the great recipes being linked up to the safari! 

LaunchHER

Come check out me out on LaunchHer today! I'm also offering a 20% off discount code there.



Summer Safari Pennat Party

Today I'm linking up to the Craft Monkey for day 2 of Summer Safari! Here is my Fourth of July pennant...

I made my pennat with scrapbook paper, ribbon, star thumb tacs, acrylic paint and glue. Make sure you link up your banner or pennat to the Craft Monkey! Friday the Funky Polkadot Giraffe will be hosting the final day of the summer safari with a recipe themed link up party that you won't want to mess. Also, there is still time to link up your front porch projects from day one of the Summer Safari!

Guest Post: Amy from Positvely Splendid

Hello, everyone! 

My name is Amy, and my blogging home is known as Positively Splendid, a place where I share about my passion for all things creative. As a wife and mother of three (with our fourth due in the fall), I find pursuing creative endeavors to be the thing that preserves my own unique identity. I love taking ordinary ingredients and transforming them into something lovely!

My goal is for my blog to be a little haven of crafting and DIY inspiration, and a place where creative people of all skill levels can come and feel right at home. Because I feel strongly that everyone should be equipped to create something beautiful on their own, each and every project at Positively Splendid is explained to the last detail with step-by-step photo tutorials. I like to think of each tutorial as sitting down with friends to learn something new together! I would love for you to stop in for a visit.

I am so tickled to have the opportunity to share a few of my favorite projects at Lauren's place today. Her place is always brimming with terrific ideas!

Needing something to spruce up an indoor or outdoor living space? My Mod Peacock Pillow makes a stylish statement!

Decorating projects that mimic the looks I see in my favorite catalogs for a fraction of the price are some of my personal favorites. Recently, I shared a post for how to create these Pottery Barn Kids-inspired cable art systems to display my kiddos' artistic creations.

Another thing I love? Turning something that might otherwise be discarded into something useful and attractive. I did just that when I created these Upcycled Diaper Box Lined Canvas Bins. This is truly one of my all-time favorite projects!

If you plan to spend time outdoors with your family this summer, chances are you'll be dealing with pesky mosquitoes. Try putting together a batch of my Homemade Citronella Candles to keep them at bay!

A huge thanks for Lauren for having me over today! I hope y'all will stop by Positively Splendid sometime soon. I'd love to have you! You can also find me hanging out on Facebook, Twitter and (my newest obsession!) Pinterest.

50% Off Professional Dog Grooming in San Antonio

We all need a little pampering every now and then and that doesn't exclude our furry friends. Juice in the City is offering a deal that will make any dog feel like the prince or princess that they are! Juice in the City has teamed up with Wag-N-Tails Pet Resort to offer you 50% off a grooming session for your dog. Valued at $40 you pay just $20 and the deal includes a bath, brush, ear cleaning, nail trim, cologne, bows or bandanna, and a whole lot of TLC! So make sure your little prince or princess receives the love they deserve and purchase this amazing deal brought to you by Juice in the City.

Daily Deals on Juice in the City



Lash Extensions

I love long eye lashes but unfortunately I wasn't born with movie star lashes. Thank goodness I was born in an age where there are ways to cheat the system and people like Juice in the City to offer great deals! 

Today Juice in the City San Antonio is offering a $90 lash extension deal for only $40! So for $40 you can bat your lashes like a Hollywood star. It's amazing how much of a difference your eyes look when your lashes just pop. I've had these exact lashes put on before and they are so natural looking. I would suggest them to anyone and trust me $40 is a fantastic deal! So get these lashes while they're hot. 

Daily Deals on Juice in the City

Summer Safari: Front Porch Fun

Welcome to day one of the Summer Safari! Today's link up is Front Porch Fun. Let me show you all what my front porch looks like. 

Welcome to #12615 that's Carmelo (or Melo for short- yes for those who are wondering he is named after the basketball player, but the Nuggets' basketball player, not the Knicks' basketball player). My boyfriend and I just moved into our this house at the beginning of May and we have quickly realized that we are no good at growing plants in 90-100 degree weather. Our topiary plants are looking a little sad but they are making a comeback (I wish they would have made a comeback before the Front Porch Summer Safari but hey that's life). 

This is my stacked planter from Target isn't it cool? I love how you just build up the soil as high as you like to the desired height you'd like the planter. Sadly this is second set of flowers we've had in the planter since we moved in. I am no Martha Stewart, I certainly have no green thumb and reading the directions will not ensure that your plants will grow. I'm learning and so far so good the second time around. 

I bought this wreath at Michael's for around $4 and simply tied a ribbon to it (red and blue for the Fourth of July). The vinyl lettering is from Kittens and Gumdrops and I'm crazy about it! You can see it from the road and I think it adds a dramatic yet simple touch to my front door. Now it's your turn. I'd love to see what your front porch looks. Have you worked on a wreath lately? Planted any flowers on your front porch? Have you made or purchased a cool door mat? Don't forget that the Summer Safari will be happening all week! 

Great Coupon Codes Alert!

I have some awesome coupon codes for you guys that you need to snatch up ASAP! First up is everyone's favorite Bubblewrapp'd... Enjoy 10% off with code TRUNK10 and you could display this wonderful piece in your house....

You Are So Loved

Next up is a super fun shop called ShenanAgains full of beautiful upcycled items. You could get yourself this fantastic headband for 25% off with code TRUNK25...

Upcycled Rosette Headband Pink Lady

So don't miss out on these 2 great deals & remember...

Bubblewrapp'd 10% off with code: TRUNK10

&

ShenanAgains 25% off with code: TRUNK25 

Chevron Wall Art

I started this project with full intentions to hand paint the chevron lines on my plywood but then I was browsing Etsy and found this perfect vinyl and I thought why not just purchase it? I started by picking up a piece of plywood at Lowe's for $4.50.

I then painted the board with a coat of grey house paint I had laying around. 

I laid out my vinyl flat for a few hours with some "weights". 

I applied the vinyl per the directions and then hung up my new chevron wall art above my fireplace. 

I love how easy this project was and the overall effect of the piece. Since the plywood was so thin I didn't place any nails in the board, I hung the piece by using industrial strength Velcro (purchased at Michael's) and it worked like a charm! 

San Antonio Eyebrow Shaping

Are you in San Antonio and like myself in desperate need of an eyebrow shape up? I sadly won't be sharing before and after pictures with all of you but this is a deal too good to pass up and I can't wait to take advantage of it. I love getting my eyebrows shaped and even better I love getting my eyebrows shaped at a great deal! Juice in the City has done it again with an amazing deal for just $7 for one eyebrow shaping. That's 53% off! What are you waiting for? Get those brows under control with Juice in the City.

Daily Deals on Juice in the City

You Should Know about: Lower Scores

Here's a blog perfect to pass on for Father's Day. Does your Dad golf? Does your husband golf? How about your brother? Would they like to improve their game? Would they like to improve their game for free? Lower Scores is a blog full of fantastic golf tips available at your fingertips day or night, rain or shine. I love playing golf but haven't been good about my practicing lately. I have been good about reading the tips on Lower Scores and I can tell you I've been learning a lot (now I just need to make myself get out there and practice). 

Lower Scores is written by PGA instructor Rob Myers, he's so passionate about teaching the game of golf and that shines through in every single one of his blog posts.

So if you yourself aren't hitting the links (which you so should) pass on the Lower Scores' blog to someone looking to improve their game. 

Where you can find Lower Scores:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

You Should Know about: Two Lilies Boutique

Two Lilies Boutique is the perfect shop for adding that little extra something to your outfit to really make you stand out in a crowd. Two Lilies Boutique is stocked with beautiful items for fashionable ladies and little fashionable ladies as well. I just love how this headband pops against the models blonde locks...

Double Ribbon Rosette Headband

Or how beautiful does this flower look against a messy bun...

Red Felted Wool Flower Clip

So if you're looking for a way to get lots of compliments you need to purchase a hair accessory from Two Lilies Boutique! All the items are extremely reasonably priced and of the highest quality. 

Where you can find Two Lilies Boutique:

Shop

Twitter

Facebook

You Should Know about: Kittens & Gumdrops

I'm on a vinyl kick lately and if anyone were to look at my favorites on Etsy they would easily be able to see this obsession. Kittens & Gumdrops is a brand new Etsy shop with fabulous vinyl items like this fun door sign to welcome all your visitors...

Delighted Front Door Decal

Or this sentimental name tile...

Personalized Family Name Tile

There are endless uses for vinyl and vinyl is perfect if you're renting or in an apartment where you can't place holes in a wall but would still like to personalize your own space. So show this Kittens & Gumdrops some love and stay for the beautiful vinyl. 

Where you can find Kittens & Gumdrops: 

Shop

Blog (The Badd Blog)

Twitter

Facebook (The Badd Blog)

You Should Know about: Bubblewrapp'd

If you haven't heard of Bubblewrapp'd yet, you may be living under a rock, but that's okay I'm here to bring you out from under the rock and introduce you to this amazing shop! Bubblewrapp'd is a shop full of painted wooden blocks with fun words, saying and designs. I just adore this one in my current favorite color grey...

You Have My Heart

Or this one perfect for Father's Day (place your order before June 13th to receive in time!)

I Love You Dad

These blocks make the perfect gift and are great on a mantle, a desk, night stand or really anywhere! I can't say enough great things about Bubblewrapp'd and I hope you take my word for it and take a peek. 

Where you can find Bubblewrapp'd:

Shop

Twitter

Blog