We Can/Can't Play Sign

We are blessed to live on a cul-de-sac with a bunch of families with kids.  All of the kiddos love to play outside together riding their bikes, scooters and tricycles up and down the street, while the parents get together to talk and socialize. 

I can't tell you how many times we've answered the door to see one of the neighbor kids asking if one of the girls can come out to play.  We love that they have great friends to play with but not when we are busy with homework or dinner.  That got me thinking that we need some sort of a sign to hang on our door so we don't have to drop everything we are doing to run to the door. 

I picked up this wooden plaque from Joann's and sanded it down.

I spray painted it black first, sanded it down some, then a few coats of yellow followed by some more sanding to give it that distressed look. 

I'm not great at spray painting but luckily my husband is great at so many things and painting is one of them! 

{Thanks for your help babe!}

After the painting and sanding was finished

I used one of the vinyl stickers I had left over

from my DIY Chalkboard Canisters I made last month.

This time it fit perfect ;)

I used some scrap booking stickers to write

the "we" and "play", and will be keeping some

chalk by the front door for when I need to change

 the sign.  I'm sure the girls will love to help

change the sign when we need to change it. 

Here is the sign all finished!

I LOVE how it turned out!

Easy and Cheap are my kind of projects.

I paid less than $2 for the wood and the same on

the ribbon since I had a coupon for Joann's and I had everything else on hand. 

These would make great neighbor Christmas gifts.

{Ignore the last statement if you happen to be my neighbor}

I link up here:
Monday's: A Better Mom

Tuesday's:Time-Warp Wife, A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wednesday's Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls

Thursday's Delightful Order

Friday's Comfy in the Kitchen, Tidy Mom

Saturday's  Positively Splendid



linking up at Today's Creative Blog

Monster Cookies

Today I'm sharing this Monster Cookie recipe from The Idea Room. 

Aren't they cute and spooky at the same time?  Even better they are YUMMY!  Monster Cookies are great for Halloween or could be changed

 for different holidays by adding festive colored m&m's. 

 

 

 

In mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars until blended.

Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until combined.

 

Add Peanut Butter and baking Soda and mix together.

Slowly add oatmeal. 

 

I added mini chocolate chips to the recipe because

I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter and chocolate together.

Look at that...YUM!

Drop onto greased baking sheets and bake

for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven until light brown.

As soon as you take them out of the oven,

place on a cooling rack, and stick the candy

eyeballs into the cookie so they stick. 

 

Monster Cookie Recipe
½ cup room temp Butter
1 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups Creamy Peanut Butter
1 tsp Baking Soda
4 ½ cups Oatmeal (Quick or Old Fashioned)

Directions:
In mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars until blended. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until combined.  Add Peanut Butter and baking Soda and mix together.  Slowly add oatmeal.  Blend in as much as you can with mixer and fold in the rest by hand along with the mini chocolate chips.  Drop onto greased baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven until light brown.

 

I link up here:
Monday's: A Better Mom

Tuesday's:Time-Warp Wife, A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wednesday's Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls

Thursday's Delightful Order

Friday's Comfy in the Kitchen, Tidy Mom

Scentsy Winner!

Thank you everyone for participating in my first giveaway and becoming a follower of Happy House of 5!!!  My first month of blogging has been fun and I'm looking forward to what the future has in store for us. 

 

I would like to THANK Nicole for so graciously offering this giveaway!  Please visit her website and take advantage of getting a free Scentsy bar with any purchase you place from her. 

 

{click on the scentsy logo to go to her website!}

 

Now it's time to announce the lucky winner who will get to pick out any Scentsy Burner and one bar to get you started! 

 

The winner is Hallie :) 

Congrats and enjoy your prize!!! 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Don't forget this cute little guy is on sale

and would be a great addition for Thanksgiving!

 

The Buddy would make a GREAT Christmas present for a little one.

 

If you are interested in having me review and host a giveaway for your business or product please contact me at Lindsey@HappyHouseof5.com

Scentsy GIVEAWAY TOMORROW!

Today is the last day to enter for a chance at winning your choice of ANY Scentsy burner and one free Scentsy Bar!  Click on the picture to go to the original post with the drawing at the bottom!

GOOD LUCK!!

Don't forget you can also get one FREE Scentsy Bar for any order placed with Nicole when you mention Happy House of 5!!

 



Walk for Life

 Go and walk through the land in every direction for I am giving it to you. Genesis 13:17

 



God is definitely speaking to me, it's amazing how you can really hear his voice when you take the time to develop a relationship with him.  Last week I shared a bit of My Story with you.  It was a big step for me to publicly talk about how I became a Mother at the young age of 19 and was not married at the time.  I was hesitant at first but really felt called to share my story so that others may be blessed by it and come to know God's forgiveness.

 

This past weekend my Pastor bravely spoke about the topic of unplanned pregnancy and choosing life over abortion.  My goodness, as if I hadn't already had enough of a light bulb moment listening to the story of Peter. 

 

I remember visiting a center for women that offered a free pregnancy test and counseling when I had just found out that I was pregnant.  They were there for me when I was going through an uncertain and scary time.  Abortion had never been an option for me, I was blessed to have a supportive and loving family.  My parents even took my baby and I into their home to live until I was able to work to support myself and my brand new baby girl. 
 

{I may not say it everyday, but THANK YOU to all of my family and friends who supported me when I needed it the most!}
 

Hope Women's Centers exist to encourage and equip women to make informed choices regarding unplanned pregnancies.

 

This center is just like the one I visited.  They offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and other information and support for women facing an unplanned pregnancy.  They are having a local event called "Walk for Life" in a couple of weekends.  I am planning on walking with my church.   If you feel led to support this cause, I would love for you to sponsor my walk.  Here is a link to make a pledge:

 http://www.active.com/donate/hopewalkforlife2012/Lindsey

 

Psalm 139:13-16 

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

 

 

I link up here:
Monday's: A Better Mom

Tuesday's:Time-Warp Wife, A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wednesday's Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls

Thursday's Delightful Order

Friday's Comfy in the Kitchen, Tidy Mom

Date night at home

This past weekend we had set up a babysitter in advance, just like I said I would try to monthly.  Then Little Sis went and got a cold :(  She was very whiny and clingy most of the week with a lingering cough that took almost two weeks to get rid of. 

 

We cancelled our sitter but still wanted some fun at home. 

We ordered in our favorite chicken wings added by a salad that I made, gotta eat your veggies!

{click here for this fun free game!}

After Little Sis went to bed we had fun playing "The Dating Diva's" Newlywed game.

We each answered their list of questions and then took turns to see what our spouse thought we would answer.  It was fun to answer the questions and really think and reminisce about our memories!

 

We wrapped up our date at home night with some DELICIOUS banana splits that I went out and got from a yummo ice cream store right around the corner.  Needless to say we were stuffed.

We had a great night in, eating some of our favorite foods and playing a fun and free game.  Oh and we definitely saved some money too :)
(Maybe next time I'll buy the fixings for banana splits and make it myself!!)

 

 

I link up here:
Monday's: A Better Mom

Tuesday's:Time-Warp Wife, A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wednesday's Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls

Thursday's Delightful Order

Friday's Comfy in the Kitchen, Tidy Mom

Scentsy Review and GIVEAWAY!

I am LOVING how yummy my house smells lately.  It's my new Scentsy burner from my neighbor Nicole who is a consultant.  My house no longer smells of our Golden Retriever, two Guinea Pigs, or the bacon we cooked this morning;) 

 

 

 

The hardest part for me was deciding which burner to choose from. 

My top three choices were: 

 

 

{Charity}

 

{Coast Guard...of course}

 

{or Whoot, isn't he adorable?!?!}

I chose Whoot! 

I just love how cute he is, he looks great on my entertainment center. 

 

{here he is all lit up}

 

Next came time to pick from all the delicious scents! 

I had fun smelling them all and picking out my favorites.  I wanted to look for scents for season and holidays mostly.  Here are the ones I picked:

 



 

In my guest bathroom/laundry room

downstairs I have Pumpkin Marshmallow

I have Apple Press in Mr. Whoot right now.  The smell of crisp fall days:

crunchy apples, juicy pears, and just a hint of the last full roses of the summer.

Can't wait to try Festival of Trees for the Christmas season!

Dance in a forest of evergreens as fir needles fall amongst

aromatic white cedar and musk, with a wintry whisper of citrus.

 

Buckleberry

A bite of summer's bounty: bursting fresh berries

atop a buttery blanket of of crumbly cheesecake.

Lotus Cove

A splash of sea air, earthy lavender, and water

 flowers anchored by rustic driftwood.

 

Newborn Nursery....because I couldn't resist that newborn smell!

Fresh, clean, and powdery, this dreamy

scent evokes memories of cradling your little ones

I think I have a good stock pile to choose from.

 

 

Scentsy "October" Specials:

 

 

 

Scentsy Buddies are BOGO for a limited time, so cute!!

 



Tom the Turkey burner is 10% off this month!!

Too cute for your Thanksgiving table.

 

Scent of the Month: Mandarin Moon 10% off

 

 

Now it's time to announce my first ever giveaway!

My Great Neighbor and friend Nicole is going to give away one lucky reader:

YOUR CHOICE OF ANY BURNER

and one Scentsy Bar!!!

 

She is also offering a free Scentsy Bar for any order you place on her website, when you mention Happy House of 5!

 

To enter the giveaway, follow the directions on the rafflecopter. 

The giveaway starts NOW and will end at 12:01 am est on October 15th. 

US. residents only please.

 

To shop with Nicole, click here for her website, and don't forget to tell her I sent you :)

I hope you have fun picking out your new yummy scents for the upcoming seasons and holidays! 

 GOOD LUCK!!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I link up here:

Monday's: A Better Mom
Tuesday's: Time-Warp Wife, A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wednesday': Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls, Clean and Scentsible

Thursday':Delightful Order

Friday':Comfy in the Kitchen, Tidy Mom