The Creative Closet: All American Girl

Hi, hi, and happy JULY! (I have absolutely no idea where June went.)

Today I am so honored to join Jana and Maegen as they launch their new linkup, The Creative Closet. The goal? "To help us to view our closets more creatively and to mix up our outfits, share our love of fashion, and to encourage each other to be bold and try new things." Oh what fun! Each week has an assigned "theme" and today's is [fittingly] All American Girl.

Yes, I married an Englishman, but I still love the stars and stripes with my whole heart! 

(Not to mention...only one of our teams remains in the World Cup. And it's not Marky's. ;))

...USA! USA! Big stuff today. Anyway...!

 I got this dress a couple of years ago  from KK Bloom Boutique in Charlotte. I paired it with a necklace my sister bought for my birthday last year (made from women in Uganda!). I also added a random assortment of old bangles and my new (and beloved) Old Navy sunglasses!

Hop on over to Jana and Maeg's blogs to view their takes on the All American Girl theme,
check out the schedule for the rest of the month,
and (duh) don't forget to link-up with your #TheCreativeCloset outfit!
(Oh, and P.S. don't be surprised if you see me in this exact outfit come Friday...) 

href="http://www.lifecouldbeadreamblog.com/2014/06/the-creative-closet.html"img border="0" src="http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r593/janalynne528/creativeclosetbutton_zpsfa38b641.png~original"

An InLinkz Link-up

 Cheers to the The Creative Closet kickoff!Bravo, Jana and Maegen! Thanks for letting me join y'all today! xx 

Be sure to visit Taylor, my champagne sponsor! She's one of my fave DIY extraordinaires!

Baby Hoidal's Gender Reveal

Saturday marked the kickoff to the our-friends-are-starting-to-have-babies life stage, and goodness it is already SO fun and exciting. I had the best time celebrating Baby Hoidal, a sweet little girl that I love so much. 

I believe there is a difference between friends you hang out with and friends you "do life" with. Our little Houston family is so blessed and privileged to "do life" with the Hoidals. It is so incredible and humbling to know that we'll be able to watch their little girl grow up (and know her from the very start!)! I've been praying for this baby for about half a year ...and now sweet Baby Hoidal is officially a "she" who will be here in the blink of an eye!

The party was picture perfect and full of joy! Cheers to this little baby girl!!!

The mantel setup at the Hoidal household

Chinese Calendar prediction for the win

So lovely for one lovely little lady!

Cutest cookies Baby H's mommy bought from Sweet Lorraine's Bakery. 

Not pictured: a keg in the backyard. Awesome.

Perfect for this Tar Heel born + bred family.

Sista vs. Sista before the reveal

Team Boy

 Team Girl
 (Loud and proud on my part, obviously. But I've been confident in my vote since before Baby H was even in her mommy's tummy!!)

 Barbie and Ken...AKA Mallory and Kyle :)
They unwrapped a gift to find either a UNC basketball jersey or cheerleader outfit for their little Tar Heel.

 It's a GIRL! (Duh.)

Mal is so lucky to have such fab blogger friends. ;)
[Ensley + Hope]

My Bible study boos that I miss all the time.

Making the quick <24 hour trip to CLT would have been more heart-wrenching...but saying goodbye to the Hoidals wasn't half as bad this time since baby girl H and her mommy and daddy will be heading our way in just a few days. We cannot wait to ring in the 4th with our besties here at the beach!!!

Cheers to the sweetest little baby Carolina girl in the world!

 Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :) 

Latest Deals + Steals

Those who know me realize that it literally pains me to buy an item full price. For reals. 

So I wanted to share the latest deals I've found with y'all! 

Bear with me as I release some of my crazy...

(Have I ever told y'all that Mark loves the song "Crazy Girl" because it reminds him of me? Truth.)

Rugs USA

This site has been my jam for the last few months as we settle into our new home. I've already purchased almost a handful of rugs from here. [Eeek!] I even returned a 3x5 rug from Marshalls last week when I found this cheaper (and cuter!) one from Rugs USA:

Via

Gingerbread Coffee K-Cups

I know, I know. Gingerbread in summer?! But it's my favorite flavor of coffee. And after getting my summer fix (Christmas in July, anyone?), I'll save the rest for November/December. Here's the deal: when I was browsing Coffee Giant, and I found that their 24-pack gingerbread coffee K-cups were on clearance for $6.99 (!!!!), I naturally bought 4 packs. I also used code "Newbie" for an extra 5% off. Bada bing bada boom.

Via

Earth Balance Coconut Peanut Butter
You might remember me gushing about this stuff on my toast (favorite breakfast) and in these 3-ingredient cookies. And this week it's on VIC special at the Teets..2/$5. [Saving $2.98 on 2] I'll be buying about 6 jars this week. Hoarder style. Except not really because they will all get eaten. P.S. It's also non-GMO verified. :)

Via

Tiki Torches 
With our new sit-on-the-rocking-chairs-on-our-front-porch obsession, we decided tiki torches were a must to help with the mosquitoes. They're on sale at AC Moore for $1.99 a torch. Woopwoop!

Via

That's all the randomness I have for now, sweet friends. You know I just can't keep this good stuff to myself!!! Thanks for bearing with me. :)

Happy weekend!

  

June Sponsor Spotlight

Yay for sponsor spotlight! This month I asked these ladies to fill me in on the top 5 items on their summer bucket list. I love their answers and have a few new ideas for summer fun in our little family now too! Enjoy reading...I definitely did! :)

(Want to learn more about sponsoring Cheers Y'all? All the info is right here.)

Name: Elizabeth Burns

Blog: That's Mrs. Burns To You 

Summer Bucket List

1. Road trip to Kansas City to visit my cousins AKA two of my favorite people
2. Complete golf lessons & play at least one full game of golf with my dad
3. Host a summer BBQ
4. Ride the entire 20 mile loop of bike trails in our town
5. Not kill my entire garden and actually be able to enjoy fresh produce from our own backyard

Connect with Elizabeth

Twitter // Bloglovin' // Pinterest // Email

 

Name: Lauren

Blog: Talk of the Trains

Summer Bucket List

-Buy a house! ...if we can find one?!
-Go to a Braves game
-Visit the beach (currently knocking this one off my list!)
-Treat myself to a girly, spa day
-Help my little girl have a summer lemonade stand

   

Connect with Lauren

 Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin' // Instagram // Shop

 

 

Name: Paige

Blog: Reasons to Come Home

Summer Bucket List

 1. Host a bridal shower for my bestie getting married.

2. Participate in my third Ride4Life. 

3. Redo our master bedroom--it is in desperate need of a new paint color and bedding. 

4. Successfully raise all funds needed to send our group to Rwanda in September!

5. Go to Africa! {September isn't really summer, is it? Close enough, though!}

Connect with Paige

Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Bloglovin' // Pinterest

Name: Megan
Blog: Simply Meg
Summer Bucket List

1. I LOVE reading by the pool. Or the ocean! Give me a good book & I'll sit for hours, soaking up the sun, pretending like real life doesn't exist.

2. Bonfires with the fam. We have a fancy patio with a fire pit that we all love spending hours around every weekend. S'mores are a main food group in our household...ever had them with Reese's? Life changing, you're welcome!

3. Trips to the outlet malls. But then I decided to have an eventful summer that doesn't allow me any shopping money, womp womp! So shop your hearts out for me! :)

4. Ending the work days with ice cream and a movie with the boy! We end majority of our days this way, and if you live in Cincinnati, you know that Graeter's ice cream is the greatest thing ever.

5. Travel! Last summer I didn't go on my family vacay! But this summer, in about a month, I'm headed to Guatemala to share the love of Christ on a missions trip with my church! You can read about it on my blog. Would you pray for me during this journey?

Connect with Megan

Twitter // Instagram // Bloglovin' // Pinterest

Name: Lessy (short for Celeste)

Blog: Lessy's World

Summer Bucket List

1. Strawberry Picking

2. Go swimming - Pool or beach, both are fine by me =)

3. Complete my living room! Right now it's completely bare, but my husband and I just purchased a couch, so we're going in the right direction.

4. To go to a Fair or Carnival - funnel cakes, rides, fun games, and stuffed animals?!?! It gets no better!

5. Create more YouTube videos (hopefully I can crank out one a week!) 

 

Connect with Lessy

YouTube // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook

Name: Kate

Blog: Anchors, Pearls, and Curls

Summer Bucket List

-go strawberry or peach picking!

-take more pictures!

-go on a road trip with friends!

-do a pinterest craft or two that have been on my boards for so long!

-blog more and connect with more readers!

Connect with Kate

Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram // Bloglovin'

Name: Kenzie

Blog: The Ashcraft Bunch

Summer Bucket List

1. Family Vacation

2. Enjoy friends over for a summer cookout.

3. Attend a major league baseball game.

4. Pass nursing boards.

5. Enjoy some sun at the lake. :)

Connect with Kenzie 

 Bloglovin' // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

Name: Courtney

Blog: A+ Life

Summer Bucket List

A vacation to the beach,

an evening at the drive in,

 an outing for sno-cones,

get a pedicure, 

and get into tip top swimsuit shape!

 

Connect with Courtney

Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest

Cheers to summer and to these beauties!

Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :) 

Fourth of July Bark

So here is your easy, no-brainer, literally 5 minute hook-up to making a sweet and healthy alternative 4th of July snack/dessert! This recipe is super yummy and the perfect frozen summer treat.

Ingredients

32oz organic vanilla yogurt

Frozen organic mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)

Directions 

1. Spread the yogurt out onto a baking pan with a spatula. (I used all 32 oz!)

2. Place berries on top. (I sliced the strawberries into smaller pieces before adding them.)

3. Put it in the freezer! (Almost done!! 1-2 hours should do the trick.)

4. When the yogurt has frozen, use a knife to slice into pieces.

5. Serve it as cold as you can get it! Yum!!

 

So darn easy, right? Cool off and curb your sweet tooth.

I wanted to include ALL of these words in the title: Healthy! Organic! Easy! 5 minute! Frozen! 2 ingredients!

Too much goodness...

This is going to be my newest in the freezer staple -- my eat-it-everyday-all-summer-long dessert. 

Oh, and the only problem I had with this recipe? Consuming too much 4th of July bark during the slicing process. Many pieces did not make their way from the baking sheet to the bowl. And I'm not sorry about it.

P.S. Harris Teeter shoppers - these organic berries are on VIC special right now!! Go get to the Teets today before the specials change over tomorrow! ;)

Happy 4th of July meal prepping!  Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :) 

"Thank You"

Via

The practice of gratitude. It's a habit we should all strive to keep and cultivate.

"Thank You, Lord"...no matter what life brings..."Thank you, Lord."

Rejoice always,

pray continually, 

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Monday! 

Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :) 

5 on Friday!

ONE | BLUE RABBIT
My bestie, Lizzie, and her hubby are opening their own art studio and gallery! It's called the Blue Rabbit. I am so proud of them! In preparation for their big opening next month, Tina got to pose with all of the freshly spray-painted blue rabbits.

 

TWO | WINE COOLER
This. Mark and I said goodbye to the 1989 trash compactor [that didn't work], and hello to this pure loveliness. Can't wait to fill 'er up. Getting this delivered was the highlight of my week for sure.

 

THREE | BURUNDI
These pictures are just a few days short of exactly one year ago: our first night in Bujumbura, Burundi. Today our friends Kristy amd Lisa (the two darlings in the top picture) are returning on the same trip we were all on together a year ago...as the trip leaders this time! 

A part of my heart is on a plane right now with the group of "Forest Hillians"/teachers that are returning to "the heart of Africa." (Burundi is in the shape of a human heart!) Please join me in praying for travel mercies and especially for the hearts of the mission team as they prepare to pour into students and teachers at the Discovery School.

 

Lake Tanganyika | Bujumbura, Burundi

FOUR | FAMILY
You might've already seen us on Insta, but these two have my whole heart. Loved capturing this simple little moment in our home. :)

 

FIVE | NEIGHBORHOOD
The drainage pond in our neighborhood within a neighborhood is actually such a lovely and calming  sight. Still so thankful to call Wilmington, NC, our home!

Happy, happy Friday, friends!

  Cheers to the lovely linkup creators: Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha! Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :)