You’ve heard the old Beatles song, Good Day Sunshine. You smile, you think of warm days and happy times. Get the inspired free printable decor and gift tags and share summer! #GoodDaySunshine
Good Day Sunshine
Free Printables and Gift Tags
When my kids were little, we used to do lots of singing in the car. One of our favorite songs was Good Day Sunshine. When summer comes along, I always think of this song with fond memories. I love summer. Gorgeous skies, great weather, ocean breezes, it all makes me happy, and I like to share that feeling with my family and friends.
Have a listen…
So, I thought I would create something special for you to celebrate the warm, happy feeling of summer inspired by that old carefree song. These printables come in two sizes — 4 x 6 inch and 5 x 7 inch — and are perfect for framing as home decor. I also designed some gift tags, which make it easy to share with family and friends. Add the gift tag to a bunch of flowers, a mason jar of goodies, baked goods, gift cards, or more.
This display looks gorgeous on our Mantel Makeover! We are thoroughly enjoying the summer sunshine in our living room.
Isn’t this beautiful? It just makes me feel good inside. Print one up for yourself and put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. I have been humming, whistling, and singing this happy little tune since I first thought of this fun printable idea. Share Good Day Sunshine with your loved ones and friends.
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Paint – The Ultimate In Refreshing Your Home For Spring
Up the ante on your Spring Cleaning with a fresh coat of paint, an accent wall, or new front door color. Get a FREE Color Consultation and a FREE 8-ounce SAMPLE! Live colorfully and beyond wild imagination.
Update Your Home with Paint
It’s the Ultimate in Spring Cleaning
Luke and I have been talking about painting our home for quite a while, and finally, the time is here! We are super excited for the refreshing update to our living spaces. At the moment, we have white walls everywhere — except Rory’s room, where we did a complete makeover about a year and a half ago using Dunn-Edwards Paints, Break of Day for the walls with Whisper trim.
Professional Color Consultation
We knew we wanted to add some color. So, we scheduled an appointment with the Dunn-Edwards Professional Color Advisor. Debbie was amazing! She sat down with us for a little over an hour talking with us, looking through the sample fabrics, photos, and flooring we’d brought along. We discussed the gloss levels for the paints and if any primer was needed.
Debbie also helped us with the various sundries we would need for the job — tape, rollers, brushes, pans, dropcloths, putty, putty knife, sandpaper, caulk and caulking gun, etc. Dunn-Edwards has everything you could possibly need for painting and/or staining! Don’t be intimidated, Dunn-Edwards is not just for contractors — they are for the average Joe Home Owner too! They make painting easy.
Debbie was very knowledgeable and helpful, which was extremely helpful in navigating the 1,996 colors in Dunn-Edwards Perfect Palette® color system. Having a Color Advisor made the difficult color choosing process much easier. We went home with a couple of sample colors to test in our space. It is so important to see how the colors actually look in the lighting of your home.
Sampling and Ordering the Paints
The entire staff at Dunn-Edwards is friendly, professional, and extremely helpful. Tim, the assistant manager, got my samples ready for me. He even cut down a box to protect my truck — just in case.
Once we had painted our sample colors onto poster boards, we placed them on the walls and decided that to really make our fireplace pop, we wanted to try a little darker shade on the one wall. So, I went back and sat down for a few minutes with Debbie again. She helped me find just the right color. Bringing home another sample, I couldn’t wait to get it on poster board and see how it looked around the fireplace and our new mantel.
The Paint Calculator on the Dunn-Edwards website was easy to use and helped us figure out how much paint we needed for our project. Finally, we were ready to order our paint. I was off to the paint store. I gave Debbie my paint order and supplies list, and a few minutes later, I was walking out the door — eager to start our project.
Prepping and Painting
With our paints and supplies taken care of, we began prepping the project. This 50-year-old house that spent about a third of its life as a rental property, needed a LOT of work. We patched and re-patched previous repairs; pulled the windows sills out and sanded them down to the bare wood, and more, but the hard work was going to be worth it in the end.
The Before Photos
As you can see, the walls, the cabinets, the doors, everything is WHITE! We were desperate to Live Colorfully. And, so, the project begins. The ultimate in refreshing our home for spring. Check out this video!
Dunn-Edwards Paints and supplies are excellent high-quality products. Everest Ultra Premium paint is a self-primer and has great one coat coverage. Our walls needed so much repair, that we chose to use the Multi-Surface Primer Ultra Grip; it is fantastic too.
Since April is Earth Month, I want to point out Dunn-Edwards mission to provide the best performing paint while being environmentally sound to protect the health and well-being of their customers. Their LEED Gold-certified paint manufacturing facility, eco-efficient products, ingredients, and labeling are all part of the green legacy that makes Dunn-Edwards a leader in their field.
Our Final Colors from the Perfect Palette® Color System
Graham Cracker – DE6144
High Noon – DEC743
Inside Passage – DEC764
Whisper Gray – DEC785
Whisper – DEW340
We chose the Velvet Gloss for these walls. It really adds a depth of color that is warm and welcoming. We will use a Semi-Gloss for the doors, trim, kitchen, and cabinets.
Think you are too young to have trouble hearing? Think again. Hearing loss can happen at any age, and Miracle-Ear is offering FREE testing at a location near you!
Hearing Is A Miracle – Don’t Lose It
Get your FREE Hearing Test from Miracle-Ear
The five senses are something that we often take for granted, until something happens that makes us take notice. It is important to have regular screenings to help maintain a healthy body and lifestyle. Hear life and #HearABetterDay with Miracle-Ear.
Got a problem?
Your ears are just one thing you should have tested. Often, hearing loss is so gradual that you may not even notice until it has become a problem. Are you finding yourself turning up the television or radio? Do you ask people to repeat what they have said? Family and friends mentioning that you may have an issue? Are you missing the buzzing of bees and the singing of the birds in your garden?
Sometimes a hearing problem is not just that things are not loud enough for you to hear. Perhaps other noises are interfering with your hearing a conversation, such as in a restaurant. Maybe you have a ringing in your ears that drowns out what you want to hear. These are issues that my dad has to live with. His growing up on a working farm with loud machinery, and decades of working in the construction industry have left him with Tinnitus, a ringing in his ears. Not only is this condition annoying, it also affects his hearing. He has regular screenings because he knows that eventually, he will need to have the help of aids.
What’s great is that advances in hearing aides are made every day, and Miracle-Ear is on the leading-edge with the new technology of GENIUS 2.0 with Speech Isolation. The GENIUS 2.0 employs three technologies, digital noise reduction, directionality, and amplification to create Speech Isolation and build a superior audibility. It also includes amazing features such as Echo Guard (to keep sound from reflecting off surfaces), and Phone Surround (that transmits phone signal from one ear to both ears when using a handheld phone).
Miracle-Ear also has the new wireless CROS/BiCROS available for those with unilateral hearing loss. Wear this device on the unaided ear to wirelessly send signal to the GENIUS 2.0, allowing the wearer to hear sound from both ears.
Get help today! Do it for yourself. Do it for a loved one. And, retain the joys of leaves rustling through the trees, waves crashing on the beach, or the snap of the bat against a baseball. Call to SCHEDULE your FREE HEARING TEST. Find a location near you here. Speak with a Miracle-Ear hearing instrument specialist, and learn more about Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid options.
Michelle James stops in to bring us a great project for the New Year… Recipe Card Organization! Put some order in your kitchen.
Recipe Card Organization and Free Download
Hi! I am so happy to be back on Life With Lorelai today. I am getting ready for a huge pantry organization re-vamp at my house, and part of that includes the recipes that are everywhere! I am not talking about the books, but the single recipes that people give me–they are just thrown in a pile in the pantry. Then, when I go to look for a particular recipe, I have to dig for a long time to find it; unless, I get lucky and it has fallen on the floor or something.
I had purchased an organizational file/drawer at a garage sale this past summer for .50¢, I think. I had actually given it to my husband, but I decided I needed it and asked him if I could have it back. I am terrible that way.
It was pretty dirty and awful!
I gave it a good bath and took it straight out to the garage for some paint. We had some green and some white spray paint so that is what I chose. These colors match nicely with my kitchen, and I am hoping to bring some of the same colors into the pantry as I organize.
Here it is after being painted. It looks much better, right?
The size was very different for pre-made recipe cards. There were some cards that came with it so I used these for a size template to create my own.
They are 7 1/8 x 3 ¼ .
I put three on a page and printed 10 pages to start.
Then, I decided to create a 4 x 6 that is a more general size to fit in photo books to use as a recipe holder, or a photo/shoe box that you can decorate and use as a recipe holder.
You can download the free file with both sizes at the end of this post.
Once I had my cards done, I wanted some divider pages. I used some scrapbook paper and cut it to the same size as my cards. Then, I cut some 2 ¾ x 1 ¼ size pieces with a coordinating paper. I folded them in half lengthwise and wrote the categories I wanted: Main Dish, Sides, Salads and Desserts. I used an adhesive tape runner to attach them to the divider cards.
The last thing I did was print the word “Recipes” onto a piece of the same cardstock that I used for the divider cards, and cut it to fit into the front of the drawer handle.
I am really happy with the way it turned out! What do you think? Do you have a system for your recipes?
Don’t forget to click on the link at the bottom and download the files. Enjoy!
Regular Contributor, Deborah Ward, shares her thoughts on Going Gluten Free.
Going Gluten Free
Practical Tips for the Lost Shopper
In recent weeks, we have started taking my son to a new psychologist. Finally we have found someone that knows how to work with children! In our former home, my son’s therapist had an office so geared towards middle age men that I held my breathe every time we went. The dude had so many World War 2 model airplanes that I felt like I was in a history museum. Can you guess what my little one went straight for every time we were there? Yep…Not a great scenario.
So, when we walked into this new doctor’s office, it didn’t take us long to feel right at home. She likes to focus on play therapy and as many natural solutions as possible when treating children. So, it came as no surprise when she suggested putting my sweetie on a gluten free diet.
The idea of using a gluten free diet as part of the treatment regime for Autism and ADHD is not new to me. I’ve read about it in the past and even played around with the idea of trying it. However, laziness always got the better of me. When a doctor tells you to do something though, it seems to carry more weight, at least in my mind. SO….let the GF journey begin.
Alright, I’m ready. Where should I start? I know! I’ll run to the store and see what they have! Okay, I’m back from the store. What a waste of time! They had an eight foot section filled with GF items, and I did get a few things, but for the most part…it was junk food. So now, I’m gonna do what I do best, research the internet tirelessly.
I posted a question to my Facebook friends asking for their best tips. I know quite a few of them have had to cut out gluten for various reasons. My favorite suggestions came from my niece. She suggested that I take my son to the store and turn him loose in the produce section. Let him pick the fruits and veggie he loves. Second, she said to let him pick out his favorite ingredients for trail mix. Then let him put everything together. He’d be more likely to eat it if it was his project from start to finish. Lastly, she said to learn to make my own corn tortillas and whip up some PB&J quesadillas. Thankfully, we are so close to Mexico that finding fresh corn tortillas is not a problem.
Another amazing resource I found was the Children’s Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation. Through some playing around on their website, I found a handy little diet guide. It is geared towards children that have been newly diagnosed with celiac disease. However, gluten free is gluten free. You can find their GF eating guide here.
Here are some basic tips to help you get started on your own journey without gluten.
1) There are some obvious things to avoid, so avoid them. This includes wheat, barley, semolina, bran, and couscous, just to name a few.
2) And, there’s some not so obvious things to avoid. These were my main concerns. Everyone fears the unknown, right? These include communion wafers, candy, lunch meat, store bought pasta sauces, soy sauce, lip balm, and play dough.
3) There are still tons of grains and starches that are good! Things like quinoa, potato flour, arrowroot, and corn.
4) As part of their GF diet guide, the CDHNF has added an extremely helpful shopping list. One of the things I worried most about taking gluten off the list was the expense. And, yes, if I choose to buy the bulk of my groceries off of that small eight foot section at our super market, our grocery budget would skyrocket. But, this list is a great reassurance that a GF diet is totally doable. They issue some words of caution though. Be very careful when buying processed cheeses and flavored chips.
5) When shopping, stick to the perimeter of the store. This is great advice for anyone trying to eat healthier. Start with produce, then meat, and lastly dairy. Most dairy and meat is safe. Just remember to avoid processed products or products that have been pre-flavored.
6) When shopping the interior aisles remember to stick with items made from rice or corn. This is helpful when buying tortillas and noodles. Get some yummy corn tortillas! And, no need to buy pricey noodles from the gluten free section, get some rice noodle from the Asian section.
Going GF is going to take more planning, and definitely more prep for meals, but it doesn’t look nearly as daunting as it did when I first learned it was our future. Do you have some great suggestions? Feel free to comment below or hit me up on Facebook!
Do you have Poise? Or does LBL dampen your confidence?
Can you believe Autumn is just around the corner? Pretty soon the leaves will start to change and pumpkins will appear everywhere. Autumn is quite possibly my favorite season. I love the rich bold colors, and the amazing aromas. My Spiced Chestnut hand soap and lotion are dying to jump out of the closet and into action!
With the Autumn, also comes one of my most loved holidays–Halloween. So, it was time to create a craft to use for decoration. Poise Thin-Shape pads came to mind, and Ghostly Peedy was born.
Why, Peedy, you ask? Well, let’s face it. Poise is all about pee–those Light Bladder Leakages (LBL) that can be so irritating and embarrassing. It is bad enough for me, a grown women, to have to deal with this issue from time-to-time when my asthma is acting up, but imagine being a child. Rory’s Mitochondrial Disorder has a myriad of symptoms that has included LBL. Poise® was a definite face-saver for her in middle school.
The New Thin-Shape pads from Poise are made specifically for LBL with Super Absorbent Material and Thin-Flex design making them 3x drier than period pads. So, Recycle Your Period Pads and create something fun–like Ghostly Peedy!
Trim off the top layer of the pad. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have 5 or 6 pads prepped.
Clean of the back side of the top layers
Put some hot glue on the head of the badminton birdie
Attach the first layer
Tack both sides down to the birdie head with hot glue
Then glue the back down
Put hot glue on top of the first pad on the badminton birdie head. Repeat steps 1-6 until you have attached all of your prepared layers.
Figure 10 shows what it should look like from the top
Figure 11 shows what it will look like from underneath
With the ghost sitting upright, tie the string tightly around the “neck” of the badminton birdie (the area between the rubber head and the skirt. Knot the string in the back. Bring the string ends around to the front and tie the string into a bow. Leave string tails hanging for decoration. (Cut a length of string that is long enough to knot around the birdie, wrap around the front and be tied into a bow with enough string to hang down the ghost body.)
Hot glue on the Googlie Eyes
Using a needle and fishing line or thread, you can stitch through the top of the ghosts head to add a hanging strap. Tie the fishing line or thread, and pull the knot down next to the head.
I finally got sick of all the pieces of paper and scraps of this and that I had hanging around for my blog. I was creating so much work for myself by not keeping track of certain things and then having to search post-to-post, through comments, etc. to find what I needed. I was in special need of a way to keep track of what post I linked-up at what party, and if any of my posts were lucky enough to be featured. It was time for my little blog to take the leap and have a Blog Planner.
So, I researched blog planners and ideas, and finally devised some forms of my own. I wanted a Universal Blog Planner that I could use from year-to-year. It also needed to be adjustable in size according to my needs.
I know not every system works for everyone, so I have put together individual sheets, as well as some that are combined. You can mix and match ’til your hearts content. Pick and choose what works for you.
This FREE Printable Blog Planner includes:
Click images for a Larger View.
A Universal Calendar:
Fill in your own Calendar dates. This feature allows the calendar to be used from year-to-year with just a press of the print button. No need to search and download another one next year.
Monthly and Weekly Views:
The Monthly View has a Weekly Overview, To Do List, Blog Maintenance, and Notes.
The Weekly View has a Daily Overview and Notes.
Idea Bubbles and Post Production:
Idea Bubbles give you areas to scratch out your thoughts while putting in place key elements for your post such as, Idea, SEO (key word), Link To, Categories, Tags, Affiliate, Needs, and Other. It also features areas for Related Posts, Title, and Notes.
The Post Production sheet allows you to keep track of where you are on the construction of your post. Post Title; URL; whether or not there is an Affiliate or Giveaway with this post; Post Written–Edited–Scheduled; Pictures Taken/Found–Edited–Graphics Made; Needs/Props gathered; Other, and when the post is finished and ready for a Published Date.
Link Party Log, Social Media Tracker, and Monthly Tracker–Featured Post/Linky Party Listing:
The Linky Party Log lets you keep track of to what parties you have a specific post linked. It has space for the date you linked, the party, and if the post was featured.
Sometimes you get called away in the middle of promoting your post on social media. With this Social Media Tracker, you will be able to track specific posts to exactly which venues you have promoted and where to pick up again. The form is ready for all the main social medias, email promo, and other. You have a place for marking the post as affiliate or giveaway. It helps make sure you get the public coverage you need.
The Monthly Tracker Featured Posts / Link Party Listings is a great resource to see where you promoted the blog in general during the month, and what posts got featured during that time. It has space for Date, Post Title, and Link Party. Over time it will help you see what is working and what is not, so you can maximize your efforts. This form is going to be a huge help to me with my new monthly feature of Gratitude, Promise & Memories.
Combined Form: Production, Social Media & Linkies
If you would rather have a form where you can keep track of everything for one post on one form, this is it. The Production, Social Media & Linkies form combines the features of the single forms so you can see it all on one page.
All of these forms have a semi-transparent background to give them a little color, but leave it light enough for easy writing.
No matter how large or small your blog is, this Blog Planner is adaptable for you. Get a binder and some tabs and print up what you need, as you need it.
The Blog Planner comes in FOUR STYLES. Choose one, choose all, or mix and match.
I hope you will find this Blog Planner helpful and easy to use. If you have any suggestions for other planner pages or needs, let me know. Download, have fun, be flexible, plan, and get organized! Don’t forget to share this Blog Planner with all your blogger friends.
