Send a little love to the special people in your life this Valentine’s day by giving these sweet mailbox flower arrangements!

Simple enough to create that even the kiddos can help out………makes a special delivery for their teacher too!

Supplies you’ll need:

• a small mailbox (I found these for $1 at Target….BARGAIN!!, however, I’ve seen them at various craft stores)
• floral foam
• flowers
• Stickers or notions
• clippers to cut your flowers
• baggie or small cup

First, decorate your mailbox with stickers and notions to give it some personality.  I chose to use letter stickers, felt heart stickers, and puffy heart stickers.

Next, cut a small piece of floral foam to fit inside the mailbox or on the flap that hinges open (the one I purchased didn’t have a hinged flap so I put my foam inside…in this case I also taped the lid to the mailbox so it could remain as one piece).  Soak the foam in water by letting it rest on the waters surface and letting it sink on its own.  To make your flowers last longer, add floral food (the packet that comes with your flowers) to the water.

Now place the wet foam inside the mailbox.  It’s a good idea to set the foam in a baggie or paper cup to avoid the possibility of water rusting the metal or leaking out.

Time to add the flowers!  Start with greenery to hide the foam, then add in your focal flowers, and finish with filler.  Cut stems around 1-2″ long and press into the foam.

It took a single rose, 2-3 stems of filler and a stem of greenery to complete this project…….only costing me $5!!!

Try standing the mailbox up and creating a round design.
Wishing y’all lots of love this Valentine’s Day!

REAL MOMS CAN DO-IT-THEMSELVES and Save!

Christina

Christina married her college sweetheart & best friend 12 years ago & they are proud parents to two lovely ladies, one who is an official “tween” & the other not far behind. She owns an event floral business & is very creative. She loves dressing up, crafting, and planning parties.
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

My yummy cake pops! Impressed???

They were easy to make and made such a fun colorful statement on the counter with our party theme!  Basically you use a box cake mix, bake, let cool, crumble and add in a can of frosting, then roll and chill in the fridge. Then the fun part-decorating.  Dip in chocolate and sprinkle with fun candies and coatings!  You must try them at your next party!

Here’s a step by step cake pops recipe if you want to try them yourself.

Another thing that I have been having fun with is my Tamron Lens.  I have loved having the opportunity to shoot with it.  I was able to take some fun pictures of the party and I have really loved getting to know the lens.  My hubby loves it too!  Especially when we are outdoors as he can zoom in on nature and our kids.  We get such great shots with every take.  I highly recommend you check out Tamron if you are in the market for a new lens. You won’t be disappointed.

Check out this lens:

Tamron 18-270mm all-in-one zoom lens, the world’s lightest, smallest 15x zoom optimized for use on APS-C- DSLRs, continues the pursuit of the ideal all-in one zoom lens. Combining prior award-winning achievements with new engineering breakthroughs yielded the remarkable 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (Piezo Drive). Special piezoelectric technology now delivers faster, quieter precision autofocusing. Tamron’s exclusive tri-axial VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization, featuring three pairs of driving coils and low-function ball bearings placed around the VC optical group, combats camera shake-related image blur. It’s Tamron VC that allows handheld shooting at as many as four shutter speeds slower than otherwise possible with a dramatically stable viewfinder experience. Compactness and light weight are preserved, thanks in part to the VC mechanism’s newly-developed moving coil mechanism.

Defining compositional freedom the 18-270mm Di-II VC’s incredible 15x zoom range provides a 35mm picture angle equivalency of 28mm to 419mm, with image fidelity assured by advanced optical design featuring LD glass and aspherical optics, working in concert to render crisp, colorful and faithful images.

A 24% reduction in length and 18% reduction in weight

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

I most certainly am, and I LOVE this Make Up Magnet Board tutorial.

Go check it out!

…remember Real Moms Can Do It Themselves and SAVE some serious MOOLAH!

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter Recipe

Doesn’t it look d-e-l-i-s-h?

What a great holiday gift for your friends and family. Their tummy’s will certainly thank you!

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Check out these great do ideas:

Triple Max Tons

Braided Crown

Twist Braid

DIY this Holiday Season and look S-M-A-S-H-I-N-G-L-Y Cute at all your parties!

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
_____________________________________
This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

You can make them in any color and really spice up your family room!

I was thinking of doing red and gold ones for my Christmas tree!

Silver Glitter Ornaments tutorial

What color would you make?

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
_____________________________________
This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

How about some Oreo Cookie Suckers! They are super cute and easy to make.

Head over and follow the wonderful tutorial and make your own Dipped Oreo Cookie‘s at howdoesshe!

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
_____________________________________
This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Trend: Double Desserts

Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It´s a 1+1=3 kind of thing.

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies

Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.

Trend: Boozy Baking

From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We´re loving these boozy baked goods!

Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes

Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate “holiday helpers.”

Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun.

Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food!

Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers

Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack `em up and watch `em go.

Trend: From Cave to Kitchen

Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that´s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can´t resist.

Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken `n´ Waffle Sandwich

Here´s a new take on chicken `n´ waffles – made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It´s the ultimate manly man meal.

Trend: Skinny Cocktails

Here´s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails.

Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini

Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!

Trend: Better Than Bought

From canning to candy making, there´s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity.

Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge

Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt-a recipe to impress.

Trend: Veggie Love

Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus

Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.

Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly

Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn´t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we´re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone – whether you´re allergy-sensitive or not.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten – no kidding!

Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G

Man´s best friend deserves man´s best effort. That´s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido´s list.

Recipe: Dog Bark

This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog´s favorite ingredients – bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!

Trend: Food Craft

The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat.

Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps

Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

{I received the details from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark for all these Yummy treats and ideas.}

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
_____________________________________
This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

My DIY tutorial this month involves a very simple centerpiece using ornaments and fresh flowers.   We’ll use items you may already have in your stash of Christmas goodies, so you’ll save some moola for all those gifts you want to purchase

Did you know that ornaments can be a water holding vessel……a festive container for beautiful blooms?!

First gather your supplies:

• a dish, tray or mirror (I used a mirror I normally have hanging in my hallway……yes, look around the house and reuse everyday items!)
• glass or plastic ornaments to match your color scheme
• water
• flowers
• artificial snow

Next, set your dish, tray or mirror in the location you will display it.  Spread some artificial snow on.  I like to make piles in at least three areas, but you can decide based on the size and shape of your tray.  The snow will also act as a support to keep your ornaments from sliding around.  Finally, place your ornaments.

A designer tip:  when clustering ornaments, think about placing odd quantities together (ex. 3, 5 or 7) to appeal to the eye. Also, to create interest, vary the sizes of the ornaments.  I selected medium sized red & green ornaments, slightly larger candy striped ornaments, and some small red ornaments, which not only adds the interest I was talking about, but will also act as support to the ornaments that will have the water and flowers.

Now it’s time to add the flowers!  Choose which ornaments will act as containers, remove the metal part that normally holds a hook, and then fill them 1/2 full with water. (Remember the odd rule:)).   Next, you will cut your flower stems around 2″ (or an appropriate length based on depth of the ornament).  I chose red gerbera and pine needles because of their long lifespan, but you could select roses, orchids, green spider mums……whatever’s your favorite.  Finally, I placed the greens into the ornament and tucked in two daisies so it could be viewed from both sides.  There you have it…..a simple, fun centerpiece….easy enough for the kiddos to help with!

Merry Christmas Y’all!!
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REAL MOMS CAN DO-IT-THEMSELVES and Save!

Christina

Christina married her college sweetheart & best friend 12 years ago & they are proud parents to two lovely ladies, one who is an official “tween” & the other not far behind. She owns an event floral business & is very creative. She loves dressing up, crafting, and planning parties.
_____________________________________
This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Check out the full {great} tutorial at Baby Making Machine! It looks like the perfect way to spend a dreary afternoon indoors with the bored kiddos!

Make sure you leave her some comment love while you are there too!

Remember REAL MOMS CAN DO-IT-THEMSELVES!

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
_____________________________________
This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.