Archives for July 2014

Twenty Wishes Progress Link Up and Giveaway – July

It’s time for our JULY Twenty Wishes Progress Link up!!! First, if you haven’t written your list of 20 wishes yet and would like to join us, we would love to have you! Simply write your list and link it up here at the bottom of the post in the link up. For those of you that have been working on your wishes it’s time to report on your progress. You can see my progress here.

In the meantime here’s a button to add to your side bar to remind you to come back and link monthly, and to serve as a little encouragement to work on marking off your wishes!!

Truly Lovely

              

Just as a little reminder, the link up will be the last Wednesday of every month. Each month one or two of our ten hostesses will offer a little something as a giveaway for those that link with us. Your 2014 hostesses are…

Kassi & Kayli @ Truly Lovely
Nay @ Coffee-N-Ink
Kate @ Life as I Know It
Chrissy @ The Brave Wanderer
Bethani @ The Texan Pantry
Kristine @ The Foley Fam
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

 

For this month’s giveaway you have the chance to win an $10 TARGET GIFT CARD from Bethani at The Texan Pantry!!!
We aren’t requiring you to follow anyone, the only mandatory entry is linking up to this party with your list of 20 wishes or your 20 wishes progress . BUT the more you do the more entries you’ll receive and I can personally promise you if you do follow, like, etc and of these awesome ladies you WILL NOT be disappointed!
So, link your wishes and enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter form below! The giveaway will end at midnight on July 23rd. Can’t wait to see what you lovelies wish for!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kassi’s Twenty Wishes Progress June and July

If you are unfamiliar with our Twenty Wishes Project here on Truly Lovely we want to invite you to check out the prior link for the what and the why and then join us by writing up your 20 wishes list and coming back here on Wednesday, July 30th (TOMORROW!!) to link it up with us! For those of you already in on the fun, it’s time to share your progress for July 2014!!!

Updates for July and June are in orange. May are in green. April are in pink. Updates for March are in blue. Updates for January and February are written in red.

Kassi’s Twenty Wishes Progress – June and July 2014

 

1. Visit Disneyland with my little family.
We had the BEST time as a family visiting Disneyland and the beach. I have yet to sit down and write a blog post about it, but I will sooner or later. Until then, here’s a photo of the Mortensens at Radiator Springs! 😉
Only a few weeks to go!!! Getting so excited… Anyone been to Disneyland with an infant/toddler? What tips do you have for us?
Counting down the days now! Just over a month away!!!
Reservations have been made! We’re going to go with my husband’s family this coming summer! We’re nearly to the single digits for weeks until we head out for our vacation! 😉

RadiatorSprings

2. Paint my master bedroom.

3. Plant an upside down Mulberry tree somewhere at my house.
I planted my Weeping Mulberry Tree the first week of May! Read all about it and my other tree here!
My tree came!!! It’s actually just a little guy, sitting on my living room coffee table. The hubs and I were both sick with colds all weekend, but hopefully getting it planted will be my first to do of May!! 😉

4. Visit Build a Bear and build a bear for Klara.
In January we made a visit to Build a Bear at the Chandler Mall. We had the best time picking out a little cowgirl bear for my Klara. You can read all about our visit here.

5. Send a handwritten letter, note or card to someone via snail mail once a month.
I participated in a summer gift swap and sent a handwritten card to my new friends! 😉
Mother’s Day covered this month. Not only my own mom, but the hub’s step-mom, my nana and aunt got one too!
I literally just sat down to write this post and realized I hadn’t sent a letter for this month! SO, I got out my cute stationary and sent a handwritten card to my friend Bethani in Texas, you might know her from The Texan Pantry. Girl, if you’re reading this, check your mail in a day or two! 😉
I sent a handwritten card and printed a few photographs to my grandpa for his birthday in March, when I called to wish him Happy Birthday he said he’d received the card and was happy to see I’d sent pictures of Klara too. 😉
So far I sent two handwritten birthday cards in January and a handwritten Valentine card in February.

6. Save for and buy myself a tablet of some kind. Maybe an iPad or a Surface. I’ve always wanted one… 😉
I happened to mention to my husband that I wanted to save up for a tablet. I decided I wanted a Surface because they’re more like a little laptop and I thought that would be better for blogging. The morning of Valentine’s Day when I went in to turn on my work computer, I found a brand new Surface and a Valentine note from Nate sitting in my desk chair. Yep, I married a keeper!!! Any Surface users out there? What are your favorite apps, etc?

7. Complete my reading goal of 55 books in 2014.
So far I am at 33 of 55 books through the end of July.
As of the end of May I’m at 26 books read!
So far I have read 22 of my 55 book goal, putting me five books ahead. I tried putting the widget in like I always do and couldn’t get it to work right… :( But you can see the books I’ve read here if you’re interested.

8. Host and/or participate in a Google + Hangout with some bloggie friends.
So I made an attempt at this one this last month… I tried hosting one during the afternoon on a weekday and had two girls log/attempt to log on. I discovered I can’t do a hangout on my Surface which is a HUGE bummer, so I had to use my phone. Google, please make an app for the Surface!!! Thanks. But in the meantime, friends, say hey to Megan of Shaping Up To Be A Mom! We “met” in “person” via Google+ Hangout! I plan to try hosting another hangout sometime soon with hopefully more attendees! If you want an invite, comment below. 😉

9. Have the carpet in my house professionally cleaned. I know this sounds like an ought to do versus a want, but I ought to clean the carpets myself… I WANT to have someone else do it!! haha

10. Make over my guest bathroom.
Still haven’t painted, but I did change out the shower curtain and accessories. Painting is on the to do list!
This is a work in progress. I already ordered a new shower curtain and floor rugs. When Kayli is here over her spring break she has promised to help me paint!

11. Take Klara to The Color Run for her “second” time. Technically last year she was just riding in mommy’s tummy. This year I plan to take her in her stroller!
We did our second color run in Tempe, AZ back in January!! It was a blast just like last year and Klara did so well! You can read all about it here.

12. Get a front screen door for my house.

13. Get together monthly with at least one friend. Dinner, shopping trip, lunch, etc.
Klara, my sister and I had a lunch date with my new friend Tina for June! And for July we met up with friends for Luna Rodeo weekend.
We had a little BBQ at our house with my sister in law and her family this month. That’s going to have to count… haha. Its been a busy month!!
Klara and I were popular in April! We went on our first lunch date with Klara’s Aunt Brianne AND had a lunch date with our friend, Kayce! Yay for getting out of the house and seeing our friends!!!
This month Kayli and I went shopping here in town for some new TOMS shoes when the ones I ordered didn’t fit… FYI, be careful ordering TOMS online. The sizing can be really weird!!!
In January my sister, sisters in law and I went to Tempe for The Color Run, we went out to the mall the night before, had dinner and did some shopping, so I’m counting that. 😉 February we went with the entire family to the steakhouse in town for my sister in law’s birthday. We took Klara with us and she got to have her first apple sauce and ‘meal’ in a restaurant. 😉

14. Visit here in Safford. I’ve wanted to go since they opened, but haven’t ever made it since it’s across town!
Done!!! You can read all about our trip to Caboose Frozen Treats here! Oh, and bonus, here’s a picture of our whole group that the guy at Caboose took and shared on their Facebook page! Yep, that’s me holding Klara on the right… squinting into the sun… haha.

15. Figure out a system for organizing and saving the baby clothes and items that Klara has outgrown.

16. Get tickets for and attend the 2014 National Finals Rodeo.

17. Build a container garden of some sort for my backyard.

18. Pay off my credit card. I’m SO close!!! I’m sure I can have it all paid off by the end of this year.

19. Take a photography class or workshop.
At the beginning of March Kayli and I attending a photography workshop held at the local college by Impact Photography Group. They are a husband and wife team that is well known and highly popular in our area. We both learned a ton of good information and can’t wait to attend the next one they host. that I took the afternoon of the workshop putting to use some of the new things I learned while attending. It’s straight out of my camera, no editing involved other than adding my watermark. Yep, so worth it! If you’re interested in seeing more of my photography check out my website or .

20. Throw a surprise party for someone.

Again, don’t forget to get your list written and come back here on Wednesday (July 30th) to link it up with us!!! Past… There’s a giveaway if you share your 20 wishes list and/or progress so far!!! 😉

Fancy This Fridays #186 and Features

Happy Friday all!!! In case you missed it Kayli shared a fun Milky Way Treat Printable.

We also had a bunch of awesome link ups from last week’s Fancy This #185… Here are the features!!!

First up, I adore this Toile Settee Makeover from Heather at The Heathered Nest. You’ve got to click over and see the before, such a transformation!

settee money shot watermarked

Next, this Raspberry Italian Chicken Sandwich sounds SO yummy!!! Thanks to Julie from Home is Where the Heart Is for sharing her recipe!

Raspberry Italian Chicken Sandwich Recipe

And finally, a summer activity for the kiddos! Michelle from Kids Activities Blog shared a printable for making Summer Inspired Sewing Cards. So fun!!

free-printable-sewing-cards-KAB

 

Here’s a Featured on Truly Lovely button for you three mentioned above! Hope you’ll grab one and share it over at our own blogs! 😉 Don’t forget each of these features gets pinned to our !! Check it out for past features and some fun ideas!!

Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

Now onto this week’s party!!!

Fancy This Fridays Rules:

1. Please link directly to the project post on your blog.
Not the blog itself.
2. Please link only your OWN posts.
We prefer to see what YOU have been up to… not someone random.
3. Please grab a button and display it somewhere on your blog. On your sidebar, on your posts, on your linky party page. We aren’t picky!
4. We would LOVE if you would comment on at least one other link.
Just pop over and say “Hello, coming by from Truly Lovely”, or something more clever… You know…
Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

 

Thanks for linking with us lovelies!!! Hope you have a safe and fun weekend!!!


 

Milky Way Young Women Handout (Free Printable)

Happy summer, friends! It’s Kayli!

As you may have gathered, Kassi and I are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kassi is currently involved with Young Women, and while I’m actually involved with Relief Society, when I’m home for summer I usually get to help out a little with Girl’s Camp. This year I was asked to help with pillow treats. Every morning we leave a fun little something for the girls to find on their pillows. I decided chocolate is a safe bet so I went with Milky Ways and put together a cute little handout to go with the candy bar.

I printed them and then attached them with twine. So cute, right?!

Truly Lovely YW Handout 2

The theme for camp was “Mission Possible” and I used the scripture 1 Nephi 3:7 which I thought was fitting. This would be great for lessons on setting goals or overcoming trials as well and is totally applicable for all ages, so if you teach Primary or Relief Society they still work.

Truly Lovely YW Handout

 I thought I’d share this printable with all of you for your own Girl’s Camp or class-teaching adventures.

You can download and print it using the link below.

Truly Lovely Milky Way Handout

It’s totally free, I just ask that if someone likes it and asks where you got it that you tell them you found it here and point them our direction.

And if you do use it, I’d love to hear how!

xoxo

Fancy This Fridays #185 and Features

Happy Friday friends!!! So the content here as of late has been lacking… Sorry for that! I’ve been busy with work and taking care of my girl and miss Kayli has a summer job as a waitress. But hopefully things will calm down for us after July. Hopefully. Until then, thanks for sticking with us!!! We love ya for it!

Here are the features from last week’s Fancy This 184. Many of the links from last week were yummy recipes… so here are the three that immediately caught my eye! 😉

First up, Bekki at Domestic Mommyhood shared her recipe for Cookie Dough Fudge with Chocolate Chips and Pecans… Sounds AMAZING!

cookie-dough-fudge-1

Next, this Strawberry Poke Cake from Jessica at Swanky Recipes is the perfect summer cake!!! Yum!!

Strawberry Poke Cake - Swankyrecipes.com

And finally, Maisy from Becoming Alice shared several ice cream recipes. The peppermint ice cream is calling my name!!!

peppermint ice cream

Here’s a Featured on Truly Lovely button for you three mentioned above! Hope you’ll grab one and share it over at our own blogs! 😉 Don’t forget each of these features gets pinned to our !! Check it out for past features and some fun ideas!!

Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

Now onto this week’s party!!!

Fancy This Fridays Rules:

1. Please link directly to the project post on your blog.
Not the blog itself.
2. Please link only your OWN posts.
We prefer to see what YOU have been up to… not someone random.
3. Please grab a button and display it somewhere on your blog. On your sidebar, on your posts, on your linky party page. We aren’t picky!
4. We would LOVE if you would comment on at least one other link.
Just pop over and say “Hello, coming by from Truly Lovely”, or something more clever… You know…
Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

 

Thanks for linking with us lovelies!!! Hope you have a safe and fun weekend!!!


 

Fancy This Fridays #184 and Features

Hey there lovelies!! Another week gone already! In case you missed it I shared all about my #TLCVox Box from Influenster this week!

So now on to the features from last week’s Fancy This #183 party!

This week our theme is family fun activities you can do with the kiddos this summer!

First up, Kendra from A Proverbs 31 Wife shared a list of her Top 10 Family Activities for Cheap Family Fun. She’s got some fun ideas here you’ll want to check out when the kids start throwing that BORED word around… 😉

Summer-Family-Fun

Next up, learn a fun Giant Bubbles Recipe from Stephanie at Spaceships and Laser Beams! GIANT bubbles… enough said.

big-bubble-recipe.jpg

And finally, you could plan a trip to the zoo! Amy from Some of the Best Things in Life are Mistakes shared her Ten Tips for Planning a Trip to the Zoo. Her post even includes some handy printables!

tipsforplanningzootrip

 
 

Here’s a Featured on Truly Lovely button for you three mentioned above! Hope you’ll grab one and share it over at our own blogs! 😉 Don’t forget each of these features gets pinned to our !! Check it out for past features and some fun ideas!!

Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

Now onto this week’s party!!!

Fancy This Fridays Rules:

1. Please link directly to the project post on your blog.
Not the blog itself.
2. Please link only your OWN posts.
We prefer to see what YOU have been up to… not someone random.
3. Please grab a button and display it somewhere on your blog. On your sidebar, on your posts, on your linky party page. We aren’t picky!
4. We would LOVE if you would comment on at least one other link.
Just pop over and say “Hello, coming by from Truly Lovely”, or something more clever… You know…
Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

 

Thanks for linking with us lovelies!!! Hope you have a safe and fun weekend!!!


 

Sometimes Momma needs a break… #TLCVoxBox

All the mommas out there know that sometimes you just need a little something to help you catch a break… Sometimes it’s a little something to entertain the kiddos for a little while. Other times it’s a sweet treat for a date night at home with the husband. The #TLCVoxBox from Influenster that I received this last month included all kinds of fun things to help any mommy catch up, relax and just get a break!

First up, the contents of the box included: (For my .)

#TLCVoxBox from Influenster

  • Puffs To Go #PassthePuffs
  • Shell Fuel Rewards Network Card #FuelRewards
  • Avon ANEW Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother #AvonANEW
  • Ivory Bar Soap #SudLife
  • Breyers Gelato Indulgences #GelatoLove
  • Neosporin New To Go #NeoReady

The Puffs To Go were an instant hit! I received this box right before we left for our family summer vacation so I stashed the Puffs to Go in my backpack. It was so nice to have them on hand while we visited Disneyland and the beach. Several times somebody needed a tissue and I had one in my bag! Win! The tissues themselves are our favorite, the lotion makes them softer on stuffy noses!

After our vacation the hubs and I were excited to spend a quiet date night at home. Just the two of us and our daughter. We enjoyed some Breyers Gelato Indulgences while we watched a movie. I chose the Vanilla Caramel flavor… We LOVED it. SO YUMMY!!! I’ve even gone back to the store since then and we got the Raspberry Cheesecake flavor!

#TLCVoxBox Breyers Gelato Indulgences #TLCVoxBox Breyers Gelato Indulgences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up, the Shell Fuel Rewards Network Card! I was so excited to get this… There’s a few Shells in my area and I’ve been meaning to sign up for a card, so when one showed up in the mail inside the #TLCVoxBox I was pumped! It’s easy to activate and easy to use… AS long as your Shell is a participant in the program. Turns out the one near my house isn’t… Boo. So I don’t get to use the card very often, but when I do it’s exciting to think of the discounts!

#TLCVoxBox Shell Fuel Rewards Network Card

I’ve been using the Avon ANEW Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother for a few weeks and I have to say it’s a nice way to instantly reduce the look of wrinkles! Don’t hate, but I don’t have many wrinkles at this point in my life, so it’s not something I use everyday… But if I’m getting ready for a special occasion or know there will be photos taken, I am all about it! The photo on the right below is even a little before and after once I applied my makeup and the ANEW.

#TLCVoxBox Avon ANEW #TLCVoxBox Avon ANEW Before and After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luckily, I haven’t had many opportunities to try the Neosporin Neo To Go spray! Nobody wants ouchies, am I right?! But I did have one little incident while cleaning kitchen knives. I recorded a little video about it if you’re interested… You can see that here: Neo To Go Video. It did seem like the pain was squashed pretty quickly and the little cut I got healed nicely! Two thumbs up!

Last but certainly not least is the Ivory Bar Soap! We used it to do a fun little activity! Did you know there are TONS of uses for Ivory Soap besides just the bath tub?! I have a whole if you want to check it out. We chose to make “soap clouds” in the microwave, then use the clouds to make mini colored soaps! Klara thought it was crazy we kept pointing for her to look in the microwave. She’s too little to understand the awesomeness, but I’m sure in a few years she’ll think it’s cool. 😉

#TLCVoxBox Ivory Bar Soap

So there you have it! My thoughts on the #TLCVoxBox from Influenster!

Tell me, have you ever used any of the products mentioned above? What are your thoughts? Do you have any fun Ivory Soap ideas we need to try???

Fancy This Fridays #183 and Features

Happy Friday and HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!! We hope you are spending the day hanging with family and friends!!!

VIA

In case you missed it I shared my review of an eShakti dress on the blog this week!

Here are the features from Fancy This #182.

First up,  a yummy Watermelon Mint Iced Tea recipe you could whip up today while you’re celebrating the fourth! Thanks to Robin of Fluster Buster for linking it up with us!

Watermelon-Mint Tea (Pintrest)

Next up, I love the idea of a Sunscreen Bar for your wedding or party! Who remembers to put on sunscreen when they’re going to a wedding or event?! Genius idea from Lisa at A Bride on a Budget!

wedding sunscreen bar

And last but not least, this Baby Name Quilt from Cheri at Fabric and Memories is adorable and such a fun idea for a baby shower gift!!

baby name quilt

 

Here’s a Featured on Truly Lovely button for you three mentioned above! Hope you’ll grab one and share it over at our own blogs! 😉 Don’t forget each of these features gets pinned to our !! Check it out for past features and some fun ideas!!

Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

Now onto this week’s party!!!

Fancy This Fridays Rules:

1. Please link directly to the project post on your blog.
Not the blog itself.
2. Please link only your OWN posts.
We prefer to see what YOU have been up to… not someone random.
3. Please grab a button and display it somewhere on your blog. On your sidebar, on your posts, on your linky party page. We aren’t picky!
4. We would LOVE if you would comment on at least one other link.
Just pop over and say “Hello, coming by from Truly Lovely”, or something more clever… You know…
Truly Lovely
Truly Lovely

 

Thanks for linking with us lovelies!!! Hope you have a safe and fun weekend!!!


WIWW – Little Black Dress

Wow. It’s been AGES since I shared a What I Wore Wednesday… Lame, right. Ah, well… Life happens, and I wear the same old stuff over and over since I work and mommy from home these days. haha. BUT I do have a brand new, lovely little black dress I’d love to share with you! 😉

eShakti_Dress_Review_by_Truly_Lovely_Blog (2)

I was approached several months ago by eShakti to review one of their dresses. It took me FOREVER to narrow down to my favorite three choices because they have SO many beautiful dresses to choose from! My initial purpose for the dress was to wear while photographing weddings. I wanted something simple, elegant and comfortable. I chose my top three and then put it to my social media buddies to help me out… Which dress I asked?

eShakti_Dress_Review_by_Truly_Lovely_Blog (4)

My online friends did not disappoint! With their help I decided on the first dress, of course. My reasoning being it was a simple, pretty black dress. I liked the shape, but it also has the pretty pop of color around the neckline. Because I wear my camera strap around my neck I tend to ditch the necklaces during weddings anyway, win-win!

eShakti_Dress_Review_by_Truly_Lovely_Blog (3)

The eShakti website was awesome! First you choose your dress. Then you can really make it your own by entering your exact measurements, if you have them. I just went with a generic size and it fits perfect, FYI. Then you choose length of your hem, sleeve type, etc. You really get a dress that is made just the way YOU want it!

My dress has a below the knee length hem, cap sleeves and POCKETS! What photographer doesn’t love pockets!!! Coincidentally, the fit and style of this dress makes it the perfect modest, but fun dress to wear to church! The pockets come in handy there too for the little nick-knacks Klara needs!

eShakti_Dress_Review_by_Truly_Lovely_Blog (1)

My overall experience with eShakti is two thumbs up!!! I WILL be ordering from them again soon! You can find more from eShakti on their ,  &  pages.

What about you? What’s your perfect dress look like? Where would you wear it??

Linking this post to these fun parties! Won’t you join us?

 
Disclosure: I received the dress complimentary from eShakti in exchange for my online review. As always opinions expressed here are 100% my own!