A Few of My Favorite Things

LINKS I LOVED THIS WEEK

2012-01-29T15:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday! Here are a few things I enjoyed around the Internet this week.

This link is older but with spring not-so-far away, I think I need to make one of these simple tank dresses.
I'm always looking for mess-free art projects to do with the kids like this one.
Cakes don't get much cuter than this sprinkled confection!
A darling DIY I have to try.
If your kids have Barbies, you'll want to check this out.
Now that Picnik is going bye bye, find out what other photo editing options are out there.

If you have a Link You Loved This Week - from your own blog or another - post it here. I love seeing what's catching people's attention!

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY: The Super Bowl Edition

2012-01-28T16:12:00.001-05:00

It's PINSPIRATION SATURDAY once again and with the Super Bowl just eight days away, here are my favorite football-oriented pins of the week.

Make your party stand out with these free printables from Little Sprout Creations

at Hostess With the Mostess.

I love the football field snack basket!

Pin via Laurie at Gallamore West

These Super Bowl Sundaes will score a touchdown with the whole family!

My pin from In Katrina's Kitchen

Looking for a fun way to kick off game day?

These football field pancakes should do the trick.

My pin from Jim's Pancakes

Seven Layer Dip gets a Super Bowl makeover.
My pin from Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons

The Snackadium!

Now that's what I call a Super Bowl Spread.

Pin from Philly 2Nite via Sherry Presley

Such a fun way to give plain old nice boxes some pigskin panache.

Pin from Catch My Party via Laura Hutchison @PlayDrMom

So there you have it - my favorite Super Bowl pins this week. Did you find some good stuff there yourself? I'd love to see them! You can follow my boards on Pinterest HERE, and if you're on too, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Super Bowl Party Printables

2012-01-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

Keeping with the Super Bowl theme I started on Party Peeks Wednesday, here's a fun freebie for your tailgate party next Sunday from one of my favorite people, Kim from The Celebration Shoppe.

Head on over to The Celebration Shoppe Blog to get pennants and wrappers in Patriots and Giants colors plus full-page field sheets you can use to line trays or tables. And while you're there, be sure to check out Kim's terrific tips for displaying your Super Bowl snacks. Go Giants!

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Talking Style

2012-01-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

NOTE: I realize it's not Thursday but for some reason Blogger decided not to publish this scheduled post yesterday so now it's ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY on Friday.

One of the things I enjoy most about blogging is the friends you meet through it, and one of my favorite "bloggy" buds is Kate from The Shopping Mama.

I love her blog, which is a great mix of product reviews, giveaways and discounts, shopping tips and guides, craft ideas, and more personal entries about pregnancy and life as a mom, so I was totally flattered when she asked me to be a part of her New Year, New Mama Style Q&A series. After all, if there's one thing I really like talking about, it's fashion!

Want to find out who my celebrity mom style icon is and what item in your wardrobe I think is most worth splurging on? Check out my Q&A at The Shopping Mama to get that scoop as well as the details on how I plan to style my favorite new purchase (which was only $20!) right now, for spring and into summer.

And while we're on the topic, I'm curious - would you like to see more style tips and ideas here on AFOMFT? Let me know!

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: Are You Ready For Some Football?

2012-01-25T15:17:00.002-05:00

My two worlds will be colliding next weekend when the New York Giants (for whom this Jersey girl has been rooting since I can remember) face-off against the New England Patriots (the team this Rhode Island transplant cheers for when they play anyone other than the Giants) in Super Bowl XLVI. Which means only one thing, of course - an excuse to throw a party!

I've been collecting lots of inspiration over on my Super Super Bowl Ideas Pinterest board, but when I saw fun football snack table put together by Debbie of Wants and Wishes Design over on Celebrations at Home, I knew I had to share it.

I love the referee striped backdrop and the astroturf tablecloth, and how she used individual pennant banners for each food station.

And how cute are these "bleachers"?

Did you notice the bottom row of cupcakes has chocolate covered potato chips on top? I die!

Another great idea - wrapping chips in individual bags with cute toppers so they're easy for guests to grab.

And while we're talking about sprucing up store-bought stuff, Debbie just added some white frosting to pre-made cookies for some easy football flair.

And last, but so not least, is my favorite part of the whole party - chocolate covered Oreos decorated with X's and O's paired with end zone cupcakes to create a football play display.

Total touchdown, right?

You can get more details and see more pictures over on Celebrations at Home and the printables you see here are available from Wants and Wishes Design. For more fun celebration inspiration, follow my Party Ideas board on Pinterest.

Images: Wants and Wishes Design

TEN THINGS TUESDAY: Snow Day Edition

2012-01-24T14:48:00.001-05:00

It may be close to 50 degrees today but on Saturday, we were braving a mini-blizzard in Rhode Island which got me thinking about fun things to do, eat and play with on snowy days so here's my round up of ten wintery things I'm loving this week.

DIY Toy I'm Loving, Part 1: This easy to make magic paint board from For Reals Mom is sure to keep kids of all ages busy on cold days!

DIY Toy I'm Loving, Part 2: If your little ones are anything like mine, they'll flip for this super simple spoon puppet theater from Creative Jewish Mom.

Dress Up Idea I'm Loving: Have some paper plates? Then your kids can transform them into animal masks, like these from Preschool Playbook.

Lunch I'm Loving: If it's too cold to build a snowman outside, take a page from the Iowa Farmer's Wife and let your little ones build an edible one inside!

Dinner I'm Loving, Part 2: Mama Loves Food's recipe for crock pot baked potato soup will warm you up even on the most blustery day!

Crafty DIY I'm Loving, Part 1: If their regular toys are losing their appeal, let your kiddos hit your pantry and use this how to from Playdough Recipes to make their own - from Jello!

My New Accessory I'm Loving: Art never smelled as good as it will when you make your own scratch-and-sniff paint using Kool Aid and this tute from The Picky Apple.

Yummy Treat I'm Loving, Part 1: Pink and Green Mama shows you how to make your own gummy candy.

Yummy Treat I'm Loving, Part 2: And Cookies and Cups shares a recipe for two ingredient strawberry fudge. Delish!

Super Cool Craft I'm Loving: Bkids shows how you can bring a little taste of the cold indoors by letting the kids make their own igloos using vellum and paper mache.

Dessert I'm Loving: A boring old ice cream cone gets a winter twist when it's transformed into a snowman, like this one from This Homemade Life.

I would love to hear about the things you're loving right now! Share the app, movie, book, craft idea, TV show, whatever that's got you giddy in the comments and your picks might be included in next week's TEN ON TUESDAY feature. And for more of my favorite things, check out my Pinterest boards!

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

FUNDAY MONDAY: Cupid-Worthy Clothes for Valentine's Day {GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT}

2012-01-23T14:25:00.004-05:00

There are just 22 days left until Valentine's Day (it's my birthday so I have an excuse for keeping count!) and you know what that means, right? It's time to get your little love bugs some Cupid-worthy clothes for the big day! And if you want to make sure your kiddos have something that will stand out in the heart-wearing crowd, then look no further than the adorable appliqué Valentine's tees and onsies from klzart.

I mean, really, does it get any cuter than that?

Kelly, who handcrafts each piece, is a fellow mom of twins so she has a whole bunch of designs that work for multiples or siblings. I personally adore the conversation heart tees, which can be personalized with any sayings or names you want.

And how fun is this sweet set?

Looking for a tee that stands on its own? Maybe something like this for your mini stud muffin?

Or this for your little love machine?

Or this for your bee-autiful babe?

I don't think I can choose a favorite. But one lucky reader will have to....

Because Kelly has generously offered to give away a $25 credit to her shop to be used toward the purchase of Valentine's Day tees or onesies! To enter to win, post a comment here telling me which klzart design (it can be any of the above or from their site) is your favorite (this is mandatory). For additional entries:

"Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
"Like" klzart on Facebook and leave a comment telling them AFOMFT sent you!
Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: Enter to win a $25 credit to klzart at @AFOMFT so you can dress your cuties in Cupid-worthy style on VDay! http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends January 29th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on January 30th. If the winner does not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

And that's not all! Readers of AFOMFT can save 10% at klzart by entering code AFOMFT. This code does not apply to shipping costs. Happy shopping!

Images: klzart

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Laundry Room Art

2012-01-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

I spent a good chunk of my day yesterday doing laundry. Fun, right? I have to admit, my least favorite chore is a lot more tolerable now that our laundry room is off our master and I don't have to lug any hampers up and down the stairs. I also love the pretty purple we painted the space but there's still something missing.... Oh yeah! Some art on the walls. And what could be more perfect than these retro laundry tip prints from Better Homes and Gardens?

They totally crack me up. My favorite is Tip #4: "Be patient. Stain removal takes time, darling. Repeat your treatment f you need to. Be sure the garment is sparkling clean before drying it. If you dry out the stain, you may never get it out." Fabulous!

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Words of Wisdom

2012-01-19T15:15:00.003-05:00

I am up to my eyeballs in a really exciting project I'm producing for my real job which I hope to be sharing with you very soon so I don't have my home renovation post ready for today. Lucky for me, it's ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY and I can post, well, anything! I found this quote on Pinterest earlier this week and it really struck a chord with me so I figured I'd post it today instead of what I had scheduled.

Such an important thing to remember!

Image: Spiritually Thinking

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: Star Wars Style

2012-01-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

There are lots of great parties out there in the blogosphere, especially for girls and younger kids. So when I see a boy-friendly bash that's also appropriate for older kids, it really grabs my attention, like this Star Wars Clone Wars celebration from Hello My Sweet.

Six-year-old Gryphon decided on the theme and the party was certainly out-of-this-galaxy cool. Just look at this spread!

I don't know what's more fab - the Yoda Soda or the Wookie Cookies!

But holy Ewoks! There were also Thermal Detonators, edible Light Sabers and....

Han Burgers! And did you see Leia's Buns back there? I love it!

You can get more details and see more pictures over on Hello My Sweet, and for more fun celebration inspiration, follow my Party Ideas board on Pinterest.

Images: Hello My Sweet

TEN THINGS TUESDAY: The Fashion Edition

2012-01-17T15:32:00.004-05:00

Here's my round up of ten things I'm loving this week with a focus on fashion.

Tops I'm Loving: Breezy blouses. They're going to be my staple come spring and in the meantime, I'm wearing them under cardigans. So easy and comfy but still put together!

{via}

Accessorizing I'm Loving: I adore the look of stacked bracelets and watches. I need to state piling stuff on.

{via}

Pattern Pairing I'm Loving, Part 1: Polka dots with polka dots. So fun!

{via}

Pattern Pairing I'm Loving, Part 2: Stripes with stripes. Even more fun!

{via}

Fashion Blog I'm Loving: J's Everyday Fashion. It's not really a blog anymore - she posts everything on Facebook now - so head on over and like her page ASAP for awesome outfit inspirations. I love how she takes photos of looks she loves and shows how she reinterprets them like this:

My New Accessory I'm Loving: Big thanks to my husband who bought me this stunner for Christmas! I've been wearing it everywhere and with everything since!

Rainy Day Accessory I'm Loving: Wellies with a wedge in a color that will make you forget it's dreary outside!

Simple DIY Accessory I'm Loving: Want something fab to give your wardrobe a pick-me-up? This pretty necklace can be yours in no time and for close to nothing.

{via}

Manicure I'm Loving: Color blocking will be everywhere else this spring so why not on your nails too?

{via}

Inspirational Looks I'm Loving: Because who doesn't want to dress like a Disney princess?

{via}

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

AND THE WINNER IS.... {DISCOUNT}

2012-01-17T15:02:00.000-05:00

Congratulations CAT! You've won a dress from Shabby Apple! With so many pretty options, I can't wait to see which one you choose. I've got my eye on the Pineapple Princess myself.

Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Thursday, January 19th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

And that's not all! Readers of AFOMFT can save 20% at Shabby Apple by entering code NEWYEAR (does not apply to the Sidesaddle line). Happy shopping!

LINKS I LOVED THIS WEEK

2012-01-15T13:30:00.002-05:00

I'm only sharing one link this week and it's one that hit me straight in the gut. You've probably seen me post here before about how much I admire Ashley from Lil' Blue Boo for her crafty genius but you may not know that she's been fighting a battle against cancer. She's shared every step of her journey with grace and humor and astounding bravery, and the video she posted yesterday of her shaving her head brought me to tears. It's a must see for so many reasons but make sure you have some tissues handy before pressing play.

Ashley, you're in my thoughts and prayers, as are all of the other people in my life (you know who you are) fighting this same fight. When our girls were in the NICU, a friend sent me a quote that comes to mind when I think of all of you.

Stay strong. You will win.

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY

2012-01-14T15:02:00.002-05:00

It's PINSPIRATION SATURDAY once again! Here are my favorite pins of the week.

Love this duvet made by Jen at A Thousand Words.

She transferred her son's artwork for the pattern!

My pin from Young House Love

Doesn't this Greek Seven Layer Dip look divine?

Pin from The Lovely Cupboard via Cherrie Steele

I may need to forsake my regular shellac manicure to rock this awesome taupe-y color come spring. It's "Wooden Shoes Like to Know?" from OPI's new Holland Collection.

Pin from Fashion Polish via Samantha Meiler

Sour Patch Kid Cupcakes. Need I say more?
Pin from Cookie and Cups via Nancee Smith

Two more adorable bracelet tutes.

There's no excuse for having naked wrists anymore, ladies!

Pin from Craft Room via Jessica Bishop

Ain't it the truth?

Pin via Jenny Goudeau

So there you have it - my favorite pins this week. Did you find some good stuff there yourself? I'd love to see them! You can follow my boards on Pinterest HERE, and if you're on too, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you too!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: 2012 To Do List {PRINTABLE}

2012-01-13T15:45:00.002-05:00

We all know it's easy to make resolutions and then to forget all about them, which is why today's freebie is a favorite of mine.

Isn't that awesome? The girls at eighteen25 designed it and share the instructions to make your own version of a 2012 To Do List. Just frame their printables and you've got a pretty dry-erase board that will remind you every day of what you want to accomplish this year. And did I mention that it comes in four colors?

Now there's no excuse for not hanging one somewhere for everyone to see! After all, a little peer pressure never hurt.

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Powder Room Redo

2012-01-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

I want to thank everyone for all of the nice e-mails I've gotten wishing us happiness in our new home! It really means a lot. A few of you also asked to see some before and after pictures so over the next few weeks, I'll share some of my favorite projects from the remodel. Let me make one thing clear from the get-go - we are so not do-it-yourselfers! There are a few things here and there that we took on but for the most part, we used contractors to make our vision become a reality. That being said, we did pick out all of the design elements ourselves so while we may not be handy, I like to think we have good taste ;).

Up first - the first floor powder room. When you walk in our front door, you're greeted by a staircase and off to the left, our powder room. I knew that the door to the bathroom would always end up being open, so I really wanted to make the space to make a statement. When we bought the house, it said blah and boring.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the walls were a greenish beige I think would be best described as watered down pea soup. (I swear the previous owners of our house bought all of the paint on sale because the color palette was nauseating.)

The pedestal sink was fine (we actually ended up moving it into our guest bathroom) but didn't offer any storage (notice the spare roll of toilet paper on top of the toilet) and the light fixture? Well, I'll just leave it as not being my style.

From the moment I saw the powered room, I knew I wanted to wallpaper it, and I used this as my inspiration.

{via}

You may remember I posted back in July asking for opinions on the patterns I was considering, and after a lot of debate, I finally went with this trellis design called Dolce Vita from the Grata collection by Antonia Vella for York (got all that?).

After choosing the paper, I struggled over which color to go with. The pink was too girly so I thought the best bet was either the navy or the kelly green, but after seeing the swatches, my husband voted for the coral.

I was shocked but happy - it was exactly the pop of color I was hoping for! And little did I know then that Pantone was going to name Tangerine Tango the color of 2012.

We were so ahead of the trend! So up went the coral paper and in went the new fixtures, and when you walk into our house now, here's what you see.

I love love love it! The new sink has just enough storage in the drawer and the new light fixture is a lot more elegant. You may also notice that the floors are darker - we re-stained all of the wood floors in the house, which made a huge impact.

My one DIY project for the powder room was the navy lacquer bamboo mirror. I bought it at Goodwill for $30 and it originally looked like this.

After $12 worth of primer and spray paint....

I think it's perfect for the space. (Plus blue and orange are the colors of my alma mater. Go 'Cuse!)

There are still a few things I want to do in there - I have a great idea for hand towels and some wall art I want to make for the blank wall facing the toilet - but in the meantime, I smile every time I use the power room. When you're surrounded by this:

How could you not?

Next week - how some tile and a whole lot of paint turned our kitchen from drab to fab.

Do you have a space that you're hoping to spruce up? Follow me on Pinterest for lots of great inspiration. You can also find most of my powder room ideas on my Beautiful Bathrooms board HERE.

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: New Year's Day Brunch

2012-01-11T14:51:00.001-05:00

When I saw this New Year's Day brunch from Dawn at Not Just a Mommy, it put a huge smile on my face. The delightful details are easy to replicate and perfect for any breakfast or brunch bash.

Dawn put together a Mimosa bar for the adults (she's my kind of lady!) using printables from Eat Drink Chic and CHEERS glasses created with champagne flutes and glitter letter stickers.

The kids place settings were designated with mini frying pans and personalized candy eggs.

Brunch itself was comprised of a combination of store bought and homemade goodies.

I love how the french toast sticks and fruit were displayed in clear glasses. And yes, that is bacon on a stick!

And for favors? Candy made to look like buttered toast.

Could you die?

You can get more details and see more pictures over on Not Just a Mommy, and for more fun celebration inspiration, follow my Party Ideas board on Pinterest.

Images: Not Just a Mommy

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

2012-01-10T14:46:00.003-05:00

Here's my round up of ten things I'm loving this week.

Workout I'm ~~Loving~~, er, Doing: Somehow I managed to let one of my friends rope me into attempting the 30 Day Body Rock Challenge. One day in and I'm already in agony so I better look like this when it's over!

Upcycling Idea I'm Loving: I'd like to try to be more green in 2012, so this great shirt re-fashion from Trash to Couture totally caught my eye. Some of the hubby's old tees will be finding new life very soon.

Hairstyle I'm Loving: Watch the video tutorial from Real Beauty Reporter and you can do a Bohemian Twist like this one in no time!

Fashion Trend I'm Loving, Part 1: Pink blazers. {via e.Nguyen on Pinterest}

Fashion Trend I'm Loving, Part 2: Kelly green skinny jeans, like these from JCrew.

DIY Accessory I'm Loving: You'd never guess it but these scrapbook flower rings from Candy's Clothes Closet take no time to make and cost next to nothing.

Toy Storage I'm Loving: These Lego boxes from the Container Store solve the dilemma of how to store all of those dreadful little blocks in an eye-pleasing way!

Cute Food I'm Loving: What's even better than baked brie? Baked brie on a stick! Express-o has the surprisingly simple how to.

Kids Craft I'm Loving: With the weather getting colder, I have a feeling this simple DIY craft idea (bottle caps + foam stickers = stampers) from Vanessa's Values is going to come in handy.

Words of Wisdom I'm Loving: Pippen and Pearl has it right with this one.

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

FUNDAY MONDAY: Shabby Apple Giveaway!

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

So many of the New Year's Resolutions e-mails you sent in mentioned wanting to be more put together in 2012 so I figured what better way to kick off the year than with a giveaway from one of my favorite places to get chic but well-priced dresses - Shabby Apple!

One of the hardest parts about getting ready while you're juggling kids and pets and 10,000 other things is putting an outfit together, so what I love most about the clothing from Shabby Apple is that their designs are all one pieces. You won't have to add a tank top or belt - if they're meant to have one, it's built in. All you need to add is a cute pair of shoes and you're good to go. Now that's dressing made easy! See for yourself.

The sassy Gondola style is perfect for spring! I love that it looks like two pieces even though it's not, and you could even wear it with tights and a cardigan now.

The ruffles on the L'Amour dress make my heart go pitter patter. And gee, do you think I have a thing for green?

The Samarkand dress not only looks super comfortable but it's a flattering style that you can easily dress up with heels or sport with some boots or flats.

The 4.0 is an elegant 10 in my book!

The North Shore design is simple but stunning, and perfect for any summer party.

Aren't they all gorgeous? But women's dresses aren't all you'll find at Shabby Apple. They also carry maternity dresses, kid's clothing and now shoes, bags and jewelry too. I've got my eye on the Egyptian Blossom cuff.

In addition to designing fabulous clothing, Shabby Apple also gives back. They're partnered with Unitus, a non-profit organization that uses micro-finance to help women overcome poverty and provide a better life for their children. Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net sales to support women in India and each customer has the opportunity to donate an extra five dollars to Unitus every time she buys a dress. Every $100 donation from provides at least 20 women with access to financial services to build their dream - and the chance to live a life without poverty. Clearly, buying a dress isn't just buying a dress.

If you're ready to kick-start your wardrobe in 2012, head on over to Shabby Apple and get to browsing. I'm sure you'll find the perfect dress to put a spring in your step!

And one lucky AFOMFT reader is going to win one of her very own! That's right - Shabby Apple has generously offered to give away one of the following three dresses.

The Ballerina:

Nothin' Like a Dame:

Or Pineapple Princess:

To enter to win, you must "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook AND post a comment here telling me which Shabby Apple dress (it can be any of the above or from their site) is your favorite (both of these are mandatory). For additional entries:

"Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: Kick start your 2012 wardrobe by #winning a dress Shabby Apple at @AFOMFT - so prefect for springtime! http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends January 15th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on January 16th. If the winner does not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

And that's not all! Readers of AFOMFT can save 20% at Shabby Apple by entering code NEWYEAR (does not apply to the Sidesaddle line). Happy shopping!

Images: Shabby Apple

LINKS I LOVED THIS WEEK

2012-01-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday! Here are a few things I enjoyed around the Internet this week.

So many great outfit inspirations! I so need to mix stripes with stripes.
Something simple and stylish to do with old sweaters.
This site is going to change my life and finally help me achieve my annual must get organized resolution!
I have a feeling we'll be trying this fun indoor play activity this winter.
There are so many things to love about this master bedroom makeover, I don't know where to start. You have to see for yourself!
And to this, I say "Amen, sister!"

If you have a Link You Loved This Week - from your own blog or another - post it here. I love seeing what's catching people's attention!

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY

2012-01-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

It's PINSPIRATION SATURDAY and if you follow my boards on Pinterest, you know I've been on a bit of a pinning spree lately. Picking just a few favorites to share wasn't easy but here we go!

It's simple to give your winter scarf a stylish spin with this tute from iCandy Handmade.

Pin via Beth Stedman

It's cold here in Rhode Island but we don't have any snow yet, much to Gabrielle & Alaina's chagrin. They're dying to make a snowman for the first time, and now they can - out of felt!

Pin from I Can Teach My Child via Kimberly Dispensa

I shard some ideas for organizing your play space this week, but here's a great one for decorating it! Frame some board games and you have instant artwork.

Pin from Infarrantly Creative on Ohdeedoh via Charynn Olsheski

Did you know you can make your own matte nail polish from eye shadow? Now you do!
Pin from Never Too Much Glitter via Nicole Abbott

I can't wait to make some of these boot socks from old sweaters,

thanks to an easy how-to from Made By Lex.

Pin via Cyd

And finally.... some words of wisdom.

Pin from Shop Ruth and Ollie via Bee IslandGirl

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Printable Weekly Meal Planner

2012-01-06T14:00:00.000-05:00

It seems like every year, I resolve to be more organized and every year I fail. Why? Well, it's a pretty big goal overall. Be more organized how? Do I mean keep my closets neat? Stay on schedule with things? Don't lose important papers? Yup, I pretty much mean all of the above, so I figure this year, I need to break the goal down in more manageable components in order to achieve it.

One way I want to be more organized is by planning meals ahead of time. It will cut down on the amount of shopping I do and also allow me to save time by making some things in advance. Lucky for me, Kim from Seven Thirty Three designed some fun free printable weekly meal planners!

I love that there's a shopping list on the right hand side so as you fill in the dishes you plan on making, you can also jot down anything you don't already have on hand.

There are two options - an owl design:

Or a bird:

And you can easily print out 52 pages and have them bound at Staples or Kinkos to make them into a book so you can easily reference past weeks which were:

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

A Resolution for 2012: Getting Toys Organized

2012-01-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who left comments and sent in e-mails yesterday, both welcoming me back (so nice to know you missed me!) and sharing your goals and resolutions for 2012! I loved reading all of them.

One of the e-mails I received was from Amanda, a mom of three in Tyler, Texas, who, like me, wants to be more organized this year, especially with her kids' toys. The problem? Their play space currently has no closet or shelving so she's looking for inexpensive but attractive ways to store all of their stuff. Well, Amanda, here are a few suggestions.

If you've got boys with lots of toys, this super idea from Sugartot Designs is sure to get them excited to clean up!

And they're simple to make too. Just use the free printable patternss from Sugartot Designs to cut out felt Superhero logos and hot glue them to store-bought bins. You'll be done in a flash!

I'm totally ~~stealing~~, I mean borrowing, this fun idea from Landee See, Landee Do.

She used her Silhouette to make vinyl labels for the drawers on an Ikea TROFAST storage unit (just $39!) so her daughter always knows what goes where.

Don't have a Silhouette? No worries! It's easy to make chalkboard labels like these using the tutorial from Lil Blue Boo:

Or you can download these free printable toy bin tags from Lily Jane.

Need a spot to keep books organized? Cory Connor Designs picked up a $4 wagon from Goodwill and uses it as a bookshelf.

It's cute and wallet-friendly!

Speaking of wallet-friendly, think outside the box (or bin!) when it comes to organizing toys. Most of them are actually kind of cute, so why not put them on display? Hit up your local home improvement store for some garden baskets to mount on the wall and you've got instant - and easily accessible - storage.

{via}

Whether at child height, like the ones above, or filling a whole wall like this:

{via}

Wire baskets are a unique way to keep toys neat - and show them off!

Last but not least is a project that I'll be attempting, thanks to all of the fun dress-up clothes my girls got for the holidays. Natalie from A Turtle's Life For Me took an old dresser and transformed it into a dreamy dress up closet.

And if all else fails, let your kids make a piece of art like this one from Play Dr. Mom, and hang it by the door.

For more ways to keep your playroom perfect, check out my Planning the Playroom Board on Pinterest.

Do you have a storage solution for toys that's worked for you? We'd love to hear about it! And keep those e-mails on goals and resolutions for 2012 coming!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-04T12:55:00.002-05:00

I know, I know, you're probably shocked to see a new post here, and I can't say that I blame you considering my last one was sometime in October. (Bad, blogger!) I have lots of excuses - we finished renovating our new house, moved in, hosted family for the holidays, I'm busy with my new business, etc. - but now that we're settled into some sort of a routine, I'm going to try to be better about keeping up with things here. In fact, that's my first resolution for 2012 - blog more regularly. Considering it's January 4th, I'm obviously getting off to a slow start, but better late than never, right?

My other resolutions? To be more organized (I know my husband is laughing reading that one) and to train for and run my first 5k (I started doing this last year but never finished - bad, runner!). I have lots of other things I hope to accomplish this year but I figure starting small and taking baby steps might mean I actually complete a few of them.

So what are your goals and resolutions for 2012? Maybe there's something I and/or readers of AFOMFT can help you with. Want to redecorate a room in your house but need ideas? Thinking of running a 5k too, but need some peer pressure to keep you on track? Hoping to start cooking healthier meals but looking for some recipes to make menu-planning easier? Post a comment here or send me an e-mail at afomft@gmail.com and I'll do my best to help you achieve whatever you're aiming for this year.

Looking forward to all good things in 2012!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Last Minute Halloween Treats {FREEBIE}

2011-10-28T14:36:00.000-04:00

I decided at the last minute that I wanted to make some treats to hand out to Gabrielle and Alaina's classmates on Monday. I didn't want to do candy - I know they'll be getting plenty of that! - and since we're still in our rental apartment, I didn't have any of my baking stuff. I needed something simple but still scarily fun, so I went with Witches Hat cookies I so over on Explore Dream Discover.

All you need are fudge stripe cookies (I used the supermarket brand), Hershey's kisses (if you're a Kiss connoisseur, you probably noticed I went with the caramel ones - yes, I'm sassy like that!) and orange frosting (I bought mine in the baking aisle).

Then you just flip the fudge striped cookie upside down, add some icing to the bottom of the kiss:

And press it over the hole in the cookie and you have a Witch's Hat!

It doesn't get much simpler than that! Then I wrapped them in clear cellophane, tied them with a ribbon and added a little tag that reads "THANKS FOR BEING A WICKED GOOD FRIEND!"

So what do these cookies have to do with FREEBIE FRIDAY? Good question! I figured there are probably other mamas out there making last minute treats for their kid's classes this weekend, so I'm offering the labels I designed as a free download!

Printable Halloween Treat or Favor Labels

You can write your child's name in or import the file into Photoshop or upload it to Picnik.com and add it there. They're formatted for a 2-inch punch, or you can cut them out too. If you have any issues downloading them above, you can go HERE.

Hope you enjoy them and for more fab freebies, check out my Haunted Halloween and Freebies and Printables Boards on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Chalkboard Pumpkin How To

2011-10-27T11:46:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I've been completely MIA lately and I am sooooo sorry! We're finally moving into our new house next week and the last minute details have been taking up all of my time. But with Halloween just a few days away, I wanted to share a quick and easy DIY project that your kids will love - chalkboard pumpkins!

Gabrielle and Alaina had a blast picking out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch:

And they loved decorating them. Until..... they were decorated. Then they wanted to decorate another one but the last thing I wanted to do was buy an endless supply of pumpkins. And then I remembered seeing chalkboard pumpkins on Pinterest (where else?) and I decided to give it a go.

The process was super simple. I bought a can of Krylon Chalkboard Spray Paint for $4 (you could also use the kind you brush on):

Then I taped off the stems of two pumpkins (you could spray paint them, too, if you want), laid them on some plastic:

And got to spraying. After two coats, they looked like this:

I let them dry overnight and surprised the girls with them the next day after school. They were so excited!

And can't get enough of re-decorating their pumpkins over and over again.

I posted about this project on Facebook last week and one of our readers, Heather, made a great point - be sure to use stick chalk, not chalk pens, or else you'll get "ghosting" and the images won't completely erase. As you may be able to tell from the pictures above, we used sidewalk chalk on ours since it's what we had on hand.

Hope you liked this little Halloween how-to and I'd love to hear how you decorated your pumpkin this year! Did you carve it? Paint it? Glam it up with glitter? And for more Halloween crafts and ideas, be sure to check out my Haunted Halloween board on Pinterest!

Linking up here:

Getting Spooky With It - Day 5!

2011-10-07T13:41:00.001-04:00

Today is one of my favorite posts in the Spooktacular Countdown at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect! I'm sharing some frighteningly fun foods from Hungry Happenings, Better Homes & Garden, Not Martha, Martha Stewart and more. And here are a few more freaky food ideas you're going to flip for. Brooklyn Limestone gives a cold cut platter a creepy spin:

These sand-witches from Lisa Storms are a less-scary great way to serve up some Halloween fun.

And last but not least - it doesn't get easier than this Boo-ghetti from Jeanne Bennedict.

Find more crazy ways to cook up some creepiness over on Parents Connect, and while you're there, be sure to answer their daily question to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Halloween Express.

Getting Spooky With It - Day 4!

2011-10-06T15:41:00.000-04:00

Today is Creepy Cookie Day on the Spooktacular Countdown at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect, and I'm sharing terrific tricks for making some tasty treats from The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle, Better Homes & Garden, How Does She?, Martha Stewart and more!

And here's one more you won't want to miss. Ashleigh from Bee In Our Bonnet shared this fabulous idea for a Jack-o-Lantern in a Jar on The Girls from Eighteen25.

It's filled with face-shaped cookie parts:

That can be used to make jack-o-lanterns.

So fun, right?

Check out the rest of the cookie goodness over on Parents Connect, and while you're there, be sure to answer their daily question to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Halloween Express.

Getting Spooky With It - Day 3!

2011-10-05T11:49:00.004-04:00

It's Day 3 of the Spooktacular Countdown at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect, and you won't want to miss today's post because I've got a round up of 11 frightfully fun free Halloween printables from Anders Ruff, eighteen25, Living Locurto, The Crafting Chicks, Centsational Girl and more! And here's one more goodie I know you'll love - printable Halloween paper dolls from Gwenny Penny over on The Idea Room.

Check out the rest of the treats over on Parents Connect, and while you're there, be sure to answer their daily question to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Halloween Express.

TEN THINGS TUESDAY: Halloween Edition

2011-10-04T12:51:00.004-04:00

Here's my round up of a few of my favorite ideas for Halloween.

Food for the Kiddos I'm Loving: This spooky spider sandwich from Cute Food For Kids.

Hair 'Do I'm Loving: Seeing this cuteness from Babes in Hairland made me so glad I have girls. Now if I can just get the two of them to sit still long enough to do it.

Craft Project I'm Loving: Who else but Martha Stewart would think of making skeleton stamps from potatoes? She's even got a template so making yours will be a snap!

Free Printable I'm Loving: Design.wash.rinse.repeat designed these frightfully fun food labels. Use them if you dare!

Scary Snack I'm Loving: What could be more fun than these Frank's Nuts-n-Bolts?

Sweet 'N Salty Tricky Treat I'm Loving: Cookies & Cups has my mouth watering with this Candy Corn Bugle Snack Mix. And yes - those candy corn in the picture are actually chocolate covered Bugles. Y-U-M!

Cute Candy Corn Project I'm Loving: Speaking of the tasty treat, how adorable is this outfit from Positively Splendid? And it's so easy to DIY!

Boo-tiful Beverage I'm Loving: Who says Halloween is just for the kiddies? This haunting Hallow-Rita from Lime Tree Cove is my kind of treat!

Crazy Cute Costume I'm Loving: This little lobster is so cute, I could eat him up!

Halloween Decoration I'm Loving: The Holiday Snobs came up with a witch-tastic way to welcome trick-or-treaters! And it's so easy to do.

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

Getting Spooky WIth It: Day 2!

2011-10-04T12:26:00.002-04:00

It's Day 2 of the Spooktacular Countdown at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect, and today I'm sharing some inspiration for creepy cool cupcakes. Wouldn't you just love to sink your teeth into these from The Icing On the Cake?

Head on over for eight more scary sweet ideas, and while you're there, be sure to answer their daily question to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Halloween Express. See you there!

FUNDAY MONDAY: Lilsteinstyles Typeset Tees {GIVEAWAY{

2011-10-03T12:31:00.001-04:00

If you read AFOMFT regularly, you know I'm a fan of the tees from lilsteinstyles featuring sam-n-i, and the latest addition to their shop is as adorable as always!

The custom typeset tees feature your kiddo's initial in a sharp lower case font. So cute for a little dude:

And equally darling on little divas, with ribbon ties on the sleeves!

I love the idea of putting your kids in the typeset tees for family photos - it's a fun way to have them match while still expressing their individuality.

They come in sizes ranging from 0-3 months to 10-12 years, and at just $13.99 each, they're an inexpensive option for gifts too!

And two of you are going to be scoring typeset tees of your own! That's right, lilsteinstyles featuring sam-n-i has generously offered to give away one Typeset Tee to TWO different AFOMFT readers! To enter, visit lilsteinstyles and post a comment here telling me what your favorite item in the store is besides the Typeset Tees (this is mandatory). For additional entries:

Publicly follow the lilsteinstyles blog Then There Was Five
"Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
"Like" lilsteinstyles on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
Follow lilsteinstyles & AFOMFT on Twitter (@lilsteinstyles & @AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: #Win an adorable Typset Initial Tee for your kiddo from @lilsteinstyles at @AFOMFT- http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends October 10th at 11:59 pm EST. The winners will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on October 11th. If the winners don't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Images: lilsteinstyles

Getting Spooky With It - Day 1!

2011-10-03T12:17:00.001-04:00

October is here and I'm spending the month over at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect sharing some frighteningly fun ideas for Halloween in their Spooktacular Countdown! Head on over to check out today's post on DIY Family Costumes, and be sure to answer their daily question to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Halloween Express. See you there!

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY: A Girly Girl Room For Two

2011-09-17T14:16:00.001-04:00

In last week's PINSPIRATION SATURDAY post, I mentioned that we're hoping to be in our new house in about a month. I spend a lot of my time these days picking finishes, hardware, paint colors, floor stains and more, and while it's a lot of fun, it's also a little stressful. What if I pick the wrong thing? What if I don't like my choice in six months? Is this tile too trendy? This wallpaper too grandma? Will it all go together? Without look too matchy matchy? As you can tell, I'm taking these decisions very seriously!

The girls' room will be one of the biggest challenges since we'll be decorating from scratch now that they've kind of outgrown everything from their old nursery and their space in the house is a lot bigger than it was in our condo in New York City (yay for the 'burbs!). So of course I've been pinning ideas like crazy for inspiration. Here's a look at a few of my favorite finds:

I love everything about this room by Palmer Weiss, featured in Lonny. Everything.

My pin from Caitlin Creer Interiors

This bed by the Project Nursery team is beyond swoon-worthy

My pin from Project Nursery

This is almost the exact color I picked for their room.

The contrast with the white moulding is so pretty!

Pin from Deapatz.tumblr.com via RubyJu

Can you tell I have a thing for patterned headboards? I think they look great in pairs too.
My pin from Decor Pad

I adore the hot pink dresser and the bold mix of patterns and colors in this space.

My pin from Decor Pad

How great are these refinished nightstands?
Some furniture re-purposing is definitely on the horizon for us!
Pin from Natty By Design via Cheryl at Tidy Mom

This is such a great example of how to mix patterns and create a room little girls can grow into.

My pin from Effortless Style

Could you just die from the cuteness? Gabrielle and Alaina's room just got painted and I chose the fabrics I want to use in it last week so I'll post some sneak peeks very soon. In the meantime, tell me - what does your little girl's room look like?

For more kid's room projects and ideas, follow my Decor for the Kiddos board on Pinterest, and if you're on Pinterest, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you too!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: A Haunting Halloween Hand Out

2011-09-16T13:52:00.001-04:00

With the nice fall weather here in Rhode Island, I'm in a Halloween state of mind so today I'm sharing a frighteningly fun way to hand out candy.

The Fickle Pickle designed Monster Eyeballs you can print onto sticker paper and affix to Rollos or miniature Reese's Peanut Butter cups, as well as a cute label to go with them. This is the perfect idea for trick-or-treaters or your children's classmates. I know my little monsters will love them!

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Family Halloween Costumes

2011-09-15T13:36:00.000-04:00

With Halloween just a little more than a month away, I thought I'd take this ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY post and share some fun ideas for family costumes.

I love this idea for a BLT sandwich so much, I'm wondering if we can borrow a third kid to pull it off.

{via}

This spider and web costume is appropriately creepy for mom and baby.

{via}

You can prove just how out-of-this-world your clan is by going as planets.

{via}

Or show your true colors and dress as a set of Crayons.

{via}

Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings came up with the perfect get ups for her three guys.

And at Teach and Tickle, Kelly and her family really know how to get into the Halloween spirit. One year, they were Neo, Trinity and their child from The Matrix.

And the following year, they were the Incredibles.

But my favorite family costumes of all might be the Hallo-weenie trio from The Suite Life of Zach and Codi.

Could you just eat that little hot dog up or what?

I hope these have you inspired to come up with the perfect family costumes this year! And if you have pictures from years past you'd like to share, send 'em my way at afomft@gmail.com.

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: Getting Fishy With It

2011-09-14T13:26:00.001-04:00

I am currently up to my elbows in projects for Gabrielle and Alaina's birthday party next weekend so I have the utmost respect for people who fill their parties filled with handmade details. Here's one that blew me away.

Photographer Michelle Dupuis threw a goldfish-themed first birthday bash for her son and every little bit is perfection! She made the darling invitations:

Cooked up some fabulous fish food, like sandcastle sandwiches:

Bech bucket veggies:

And Go Fish jigglers:

Michelle even made the sidewalk chalk favors.

My favorite part? The adorable goldfish cake topper she made, inspired by these.

See more pictures over on CAKE.

Images: Michelle Dupuis

Playing Hooky

2011-09-13T14:17:00.000-04:00

To celebrate Gabrielle and Alaina's birthday!

I can't believe my little 27 week preemies are three years old today. Time flies too fast!

FUNDAY MONDAY: Getting Dora-fied! {GIVEAWAY}

2011-09-12T14:56:00.000-04:00

Gabrielle and Alaina turn three tomorrow, and they're not excited about their birthday party or having cupcakes at school. No, they can't wait to bust out their new Dora the Explorer DVDs. The girls are obsessed with a certain Spanish-speaking Señorita and her buddy Boots, and what better way to celebrate than with Dora's Storybook Adventures.

This DVD set has Dora and her pals going on three adventures, each in its own double-length episode.

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Storybook Adventures Episode Synopses:
Dora the Explorer: Fairytale Adventure
Fairytale Adventure (Double Length Episode)
Dora and Boots are exploring the forest when they discover the gate to Fairy-Tale Land. Soon they find that there’s a mean witch who lives in Fairy-Tale Land and when Boots eats a banana from the witch’s fruit tree, Boots turns into Sleeping Boots! In order to break the witch’s spell, Sleeping Boots must get a hug from Princess Dora.
What Happens Next?
Abuela gives Dora a special star pocket to catch explorer stars, and Dora sets out to become a star catcher! With Boots’ help, she soon catches her first explorer star but Swiper swipes the star pocket and ties it to a balloon that floats all the way up to cloud castle.
The Magic Stick
Dora and Boots find a magic stick and according to the wise old tree frog, it’s up to them to go to the top of the highest hill to make the stick do its magic trick.
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess
Dora Saves The Snow Princess (Double Length Episode)
Dora, Boots and the Snowflake Fairy are off to save La Princessa Sabrina and her snowy forest from a mean witch who has locked her in a tower and taken away her magic snow crystal.
Dora’s Jack-in-the-Box
Dora’s twin brother and sister have been sick and Dora wants to buy them a present to cheer them up. She finds a Jack-in-the-Box but it’s been so long since Jack’s been played, the little clown doesn’t know he’s supposed to pop out when the song says, “Pop goes the weasel!”
Bark, Bark To Play Park!
Everyone is getting ready for the big Twins Day Party at Play Park. Dora even has a surprise for her puppy, Perrito. He has a twin too – a long-lost puppy brother he hasn’t seen since they were babies.
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom!
Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom (Double Length Episode)
A greedy king has stolen the crystals that give Allie’s kingdom color and Dora and Boots must help Allie locate the crystals and turn the pale gray kingdom back into a colorful wonderland before it’s too late. Along the way, the trio gain help from a British knight, a giant caterpillar and a magician who give Dora three gifts – a shield, butterfly wings and a magic wand – to aid in her journey. Using these presents, Dora attempts to defeat the greedy king and restore color to the kingdom.
First Day of School
Boots and Tico are really excited because it’s their first day of school ever. In their new school, they’ll learn in English and Spanish! Dora leads the way, teaching Boots Spanish and Tico English as they head out to school.
Boots’ Banana Wish
Dora and Boots are at an amusement park where they have a special wishing machine. Boots makes a wish for bananas and suddenly a bunch fall down on Boots. He’s so happy but soon realizes that the bananas don’t stop coming.

Gabrielle and Alaina watched Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom! at least 100 times when it aired earlier this year, and I know they're going to love the two twin-oriented episodes.

And as if three double-length episodes weren't enough, we also got Dora's Enchanted Forest Adventures, another trilogy of stories, to check out.

The Tale of the Unicorn King, The Secret of Atlantis and Dora Saves King Unicornio are three new episodes that won't premiere on TV until November. Pair Dora and Boots with unicorns, gnomes and fairies and you get all of Gabrielle and Alaina's favorite things. They're going to go nuts over these new shows!

You can purchase Dora's Storybook Adventures and Dora's Enchanted Forest Adventures starting tomorrow, September 13th. I know my girls are going to enjoy every second of them, and I'm going to give a set away to one lucky AFOMFT reader to enjoy too!

To enter to win, post a comment here telling me what your child's favorite birthday gift was this year.(this is mandatory). That's it!

All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends September 19th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on September 20th. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Please note that Paramount Home Entertainment sent me the five DVDs listed above for the purpose of this review and giveaway. No other compensation was received. The opinions I've shared of their products are my own and yours may differ.

Images: Paramount Home Entertainment

Always Remember

2011-09-11T13:49:00.001-04:00

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, I was getting ready for work in my apartment on East 12th Street in Manhattan, admiring how beautiful the weather was when I heard a loud whoosh. Minutes later, the local news interrupted Good Morning America to announce that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. The images, smells, noises and experiences from that rest of that day - and from the rest of that week, really - will be forever seared into my brain.

Plenty of them revolve around horror and fear but the biggest thing that struck me on that day was the sense of unity among the people of New York. Strangers helped strangers, neighbors who'd never met sat together and prayed, and countless men and women put themselves in harm's way to help in any way they could. While the terror of the day will always stay with me, it's the togetherness I choose to remember.

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY: Planning the Playroom

2011-09-10T14:58:00.000-04:00

If all goes smoothly, in about a month we'll be moving into our new house! Lately, I've had decorating the girls' playroom on the brain so today's Pinteresting picks are all fun ideas tied to planning the perfect play space.

Giant Wall-Mounted Doll House

Pin from Ashley Ann Photography via Bethany

First Day of School Favors

Pin from Lego Express via Kelly Fox

Chalkboard Art Gallery

Pin from Artful Adventures via Lisa Leonard

Basket Toy Storage
Pin from Decoeuracao via Tadpole Creations

DIY Pallet Bed/Sofa

My pin from Project Nursery

Rain Gutter Bookshelves
Pin from nicandboys via Beth Stedman

Aren't they all adorable? I can't wait to get started!

For more playroom projects and ideas, follow my Planning the Playroom board on Pinterest, and if you're on Pinterest, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you too!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Touchdown!

2011-09-09T12:25:00.003-04:00

Are you ready for some football? The NFL season kicked off last night which means tailgate and other pigskin screening parties will be coming up. Want to throw one of your own? Fresh Chick Designs has some free printables to help you plan some super fab football festivities that are sure to score a touchdown!

There are party dots, perfect for dressing up food or making banners.

And the cutest yard line cupcake wrappers!

You can watch Rebecca and Shannon from Fresh Chick Designs give tips on throwing a fun football party here and like them on Facebook to get the link to download the printables above.

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: "Young Love" Review

2011-09-08T12:36:00.001-04:00

It's ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY again and I've got a different kind of post for you today. I used to be a music junkie. You name the genre, there was a singer or band I loved. Country, rock, pop, techno - I listened to it all and I loved finding a new artist whose album I enjoyed from start to finish. But for the past few months, my exposure to music has revolved around the latest ditty on Yo Gabba Gabba or the Fresh Beat Band (am I the only one who thinks that "Jump, Jump" song from the "Giant Pizza" episode sounds like something the Black Eyed Peas would sing? I am? Okay, moving on....). So when I had the opportunity to take a listen to the new Mat Kearney album Young Love, I was really excited.

I posted last week about how much I've been loving his song "Hey Mama" and the rest of Young Love is just as catchy. I've been training for a 4-mile race in November and Mat's album is the perfect soundtrack for a long run. Most of the songs are uptempo and have a great beat to them as well - "Chasing the Light" and "She Got the Honey" are two of my personal favorites.

This isn't Mat Kearney's first release - he's had two others and you've probably already heard his music on shows like Grey's Anatomy or The Hills - so you may want to check out his first two albums as well. His vibe reminds me sort of Counting Crows crossed with Jack Johnson crossed with John Mayer but with a twist, and the biggest endorsement I can give is that all of the songs get me car-dancing and put a smile on my face, even on a rainy day like today.

Want to find out more about Mat Kearney? Click around this widget to check out his Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube channel, etc.

Please note that as a member of the One2One Network, I was sent a download of Mat Kearney's album for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. The opinions I've shared of this product are my own and yours may differ.

AND THE WINNER IS....

2011-09-07T11:09:00.004-04:00

Congratulations ERIN (ERNA)! You've won a bottle of Espresso Your Style polish by OPI!

Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Friday, September 9th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

AND THE WINNER IS....

2011-09-07T11:06:00.001-04:00

Congratulations KELLYZ! You've won a $50 gift card to Target for supporting Mito Awareness! Thank you for liking Wish GRANTed on Facebook and helping Delaney spread the word about Mito. She's still trying to hit 10,000 fans so if you haven't already, please head over and like Wish GRANTed!

Kelly, please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Friday, September 9th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

2011-09-06T15:56:00.002-04:00

Here's my round up of a few of my favorite things at this moment.

Kids App I'm Loving: Spot the Dot from David A. Carter. The children's author has created an app that's addictive for toddlers and adults alike.

Book I'm Loving: I started Faith: A Novel by Jennifer Haigh last night and can't wait to get back to it.

Craft Project I'm Loving: This piece of art from Unsimple Living is simple and so so cool. I can't wait to melt my own Crayolas!

DIY Project I'm Loving: Isn't this chandelier from Hey Gorgeous stunning? Guess what it's made from? Paint chips. I kid you not!

Purchase for the Girlies I'm Loving: Gabrielle and Alaina got to wear their new Lucky Cat Rain Coats from Kidorable today and they didn't want to take them off!

Comfort Food I'm Loving: On a rainy day like today, there's nothing I want more than a bowl of Corn and Chicken and Chowder from Buns in the Oven. Just look at that yumminess!

Home Organization Idea I'm Loving: This in-cabinet measurement conversion chart and measuring spoon and cup storage idea from Infarantly Creative is brilliant!

Sweet Treat I'm Loving: Baked by Perfection's Peanut Butter Cup Brownies make my mouth water. I need some. Now.

Playroom Pattern I'm Loving: I saw the pattern for these Rollie Pollies over on So You Think You're Crafty and immediately pinned it so I can make a bunch for the girls' new playroom. Part seating, part toy, all fun!

Cool Furniture Revamp I'm Loving: O'verlays by Danika Cheryle are really chic geometric patterns designed to be applied to furniture (they're made to fit certain Ikea pieces exactly) to turn plain pieces into show pieces. So fab!

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Toddler Chore Chart

2011-09-02T15:55:00.000-04:00

Now that the girls are in school and about to turn three, it seems like the right time to start getting them used to doing chores, so when I found this modern toddler chore chart from Danyelle at Dandee Designs, I was super excited.

It's perfect because the tasks are age-appropriate - make your bed, get dressed, clear your dishes, brush your teeth and pick up your toys.

I printed our two for Gabrielle and Alaina. We'll see how it goes!

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Personal Yearbooks

2011-09-01T05:37:00.000-04:00

With school kicking off, I wanted to share a really fun idea I found from Becky Higgins - Personal Yearbooks.

It's such a simple but wonderful way to help your child document their experiences throughout the school year.

You can find free printables and lots of tips for creating your own at Becky Higgins.

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: Vintage Halloween Fun!

2011-08-31T14:22:00.002-04:00

Now that almost everyone has gotten their kiddos back to school, what's next on the horizon? Halloween, of course!

I've got scores of Halloween amazingness to show you over the next month but I had to kick things off with this scary chic party from Maureen and Adria at Anders Ruff that was featured on Hostess With the Mostess today.

So fab, right?

The theme was vintage and the details are so creative and totally stunning. Tell me your little on won't go batty for these drinks!

I love the mummy-mallows and Boo-meringues!

And the rest of the sweet treats, like the owl and pumpkin cookies from Firefly Confections, were just as festive. I can't wait for the tutorial on how to make the chocolate skeleton keys.

Maureen and Adria had quite a few more treats - and a few tricks - up their sleeve when they planned this bash and you can read more about them over on Hostess With the Mostess.

And if you want to throw your own Vintage Halloween Party, the printable package from Anders Ruff is on sale for just $12.

If you've got a Halloween bash you want to share, send us some pictures and you just might see it in next week's PARTY PEEKS!

Images: Becca Bond Photography for Anders Ruff Custom Design

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

2011-08-30T14:01:00.000-04:00

Here's my round up of a few of my favorite things at this moment.

Song I'm Loving: "Hey Mama" by Mat Kearney. It's a total ear worm. In a good way!

Sweet Idea I'm Loving: Brownie Cookie Sundae Bowls from Half-Baked. Could you just die?

Back to School Project I'm Loving: Jen from Scissors and Spatulas sprayed the inside of her little guy's lunch box with chalk board spray paint so she could write him notes everyday. I'm so going to ~~steal~~ borrow this idea!

Toy I'm Loving: Well, we don't actually have one yet but I'm loving the idea of the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet. I put two of them on the girls' birthday wish list and I'm hoping if they get them that this baby will keep their paws off my iPad!

Website I'm Loving: If you love US Weekly and gossip blogs but haven't checked out Suri's Burn Book, get yourself over there pronto! You can thank me when you've recovered from laughing so hard.

Shoes I'm Loving: Fall is my favorite season not because of how pretty it is (but I will admit, it's VERY pretty!) but because of the clothes. And these DV by Dolce Vida Pura booties are at the top of my must-have list.

Website I'm Loving, Part Deux: Spoon Fork Bacon. I double dog dare you to leave that sight without drooling. I can't wait to get into our house so I can make some of these Bacon, Gruyere and Green Onion Scones. Oh.my.yumminess!

Show I'm Loving: Project Runway. Sure, it's season 9, but this go-round has me more into this show than I've been in ages.

Simple DIY Project I'm Loving: How cute are these frames from Martha Stewart? Guess what? They're belt buckles!

Organization Tip I'm Loving: The Idea Room pre-sorts her kids' school clothes and labels by them by day in the drawer! My girls are too young to grab the right ones but considering how much time I spend debating what to dress them in each morning, I may have to try this too.

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY: Hurricane Irene Activities

2011-08-27T15:14:00.001-04:00

With Hurricane Irene making her way up the coast, today's Pinteresting picks revolve around activities you can do with the kiddos while you're stuck indoors with stuff you probably have on hand.

Draw a Play Mat on a Shower Curtain
My pin from Filth Wizardry

Make Some Wacky Paper Wigs

My pin from Jelly Fish Jelly

Make a Paper Plate Ring Toss

Pin from A Little Learning for Two via Remodelaholic

Paint With Marbles
Pin from The Mother Huddle via KeriF

Make Milk Rainbows

My pin from The Mother Huddle

Penny Tap Shoes
Pin from Real Simple via Kimberly West

If these don't keep your kids from getting too stir crazy, I don't know what will!

For more projects and ideas, follow my Activities for the Kiddos board on Pinterest, and if you're on Pinterest, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you too.

Stay safe and dry, everyone!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: More Back-to-School Goodies!

2011-08-26T16:15:00.001-04:00

I've got three more back-to-school freebies coming your way today!

Up first are these terrific school notes from Angela at Anything But Perfect. They are so great for sending quick messages and reminders to your child's teacher.

Oh My Gluestick designed this adorable printable that you can frame as a teacher's gift.

And I love these lunch sack tags from Sissy Print!

What little dude wouldn't love getting lunch with this label on it?

Hope you enjoyed today's picks, and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Espresso Your Style {GIVEAWAY}

2011-08-25T11:30:00.000-04:00

Holy guacamole! I can't even tell you how many e-mails I've gotten about this nail polish I posted as part of TEN THINGS TUESDAY.

I listed it here as Espresso by OPI but apparently, that's not the right name. After much investigation, it looks like the actual name is Espresso Your Style and depending on how the light hits it and how many coats you use, it may look more like this:

Or like this:

And here's a good close up:

So there you have it. I picked up a bottle yesterday for myself and grabbed an extra for one of you too!

To enter to win a bottle of OPI's Espresso Your Style nail polish, leave a comment here telling me what your favorite nail color is. That's it!

All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends September 1st at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on September 2nd. If the winner does not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Images: The Daily Varnish, Nailswatches & All You Desire

AND THE WINNER IS....

2011-08-25T11:14:00.001-04:00

Congratulations STACEY! You've won a the toilet tattoo of your choice from Toilet Tattoos! You said you'd pick the Snowman in a To Hat and he's sure to give your bathroom a dose of holiday cheer!

Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Saturday, August 27th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

And a big thanks to Toilet Tattoos for this fabulous giveaway!

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

2011-08-25T11:14:00.000-04:00

Congratulations KRIS & ANONYMOUS! You've each won two custom bag tags from Invitation Consultants! You'll never have to worry about losing your kiddo's backpacks now.

Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Saturday, August 27th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, new winners will be chosen.

Big thanks to Invitation Consultants for this wonderful giveaway!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

2011-08-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

Here's my round up of a few of my favorite things at this moment.

Cake I'm Loving: Darla from Bakingdom has blown me away with this rainbow confection, as beautiful inside as it is outside!

Book I'm Loving: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. I read it in 48 hours which is saying something considering I have twin toddlers!

DIY Project I'm Loving: Kim from A Girl and a Glue Gun used printable vinyl to create this awesome family piece.

Nail Polish I'm Loving: I think Espresso from OPI is going to be my go-to fall color!

Trainwreck TV I'm Loving: Bachelor Pad. I'm embarrassed to admit I'm watching but I just can't stop. Michelle Money FTW!

Fall Line I'm Loving: I want one of everything from H&M's new arrivals, but especially these slim plaid pants.

Home Accent I'm Loving: I'm a sucker for monograms and this adorable pillow from Studio Design Lab must be mine! With different initials, of course.

Cute Food I'm Loving: How cute are these Rice Krispie Treat Birthday Balloons from Hungry Happenings?

Organizing Idea I'm Loving: I have the worst time keeping our linen closets neat (I'm sure my husband is chuckling right now, asking "Just the linen closets?') so I'm so going to give this idea of using shelf dividers from BHG.com a try.

School Lunch Accessory I'm Loving: I can't even begin to tell you how great the Sassy Dippin' Dinner Plate Set is! For $8, you get six pieces - four divided plates and two lids. The plates have no-slip bottoms and a separate compartment for dipping sauce (my girls LOVE that!) and best of all - they're dishwasher safe. This set makes packing Gabrielle and Alaina's lunches a breeze.

Kiddie Craft I'm Loving: Make-your-own glittery galaxy play dough from Fairy Dust Teaching. Does that look fab or what?

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

FUNDAY MONDAY: Help Support Mito Awareness! {GIVEAWAY}

2011-08-22T13:13:00.000-04:00

Today's FUNDAY MONDAY giveaway post is a little different than usual. Yes, I'll be giving away something fab - a $50 gift card to Target! - but this time, you need to do some giving too.

Two of my friend have little boys suffering from Mitochondrial Disease. Ben and Grant are two of the sweetest and cutest kiddos you've ever met and the fact that these toddlers face such an uphill battle breaks my heart. But their mothers and families are true fighters and are determined to beat this disease, and I'm hoping you'll all join me in helping them achieve that.

Grant's 14 year old sister, Delaney, started a Facebook page to help raise awareness about Mito called Wish GRANTed.

Delaney is hoping to get 10,000 "likes" in a week and she's almost at 3,500 after just a few days. Please click on over to Wish GRANTed and hit "like" to help Delaney reach her goal!

And on September 18th, I'll be walking for Ben's Buddies in the 2011 MitoAction Energy Walk & 5K Run for Mitochondrial Disease in South Boston. Please visit my personal page here and consider donating to sponsor our team or joining us as a virtual walker or in person if you're in the area. Every dollar raised can help make Mito a thing of the past.

Please spread the word about Wish GRANTed and the MitoAction Walk! By doing so, not only will you be able to enter to win a $50 gift card to Target from AFOMFT, but you can also head over to Pyjammy's Triplets and enter to win a $20 CafePress gift certificate there too. Giving back has its perks!

To enter to win a $50 Target Gift Card, please leave a comment below for any of the following actions:

"Like" Wish GRANTed on Facebook (one entry - please leave your FB profile name)
Share the Wish GRANTed FB link in your FB status or on Twitter (one entry each for each time you do it - please leave a link to your status or Tweet and a separate comment for each entry)
Donate to support Ben's Buddies in the MitoAction Walk (one entry per $5 donated - leave a separate comment for each entry)
Join the Ben's Buddies MitoAction Walk team as a virtual or in person walker or runner (one entry per $5 raised - leave a separate comment for each entry)
Blog about these awareness and fundraising efforts including the links to Wish GRANTed and Ben's Buddies (worth five entries - please leave a separate comment for each one along with a link to your blog post)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends September 6th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on September 7th. If the winner does not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

LINKS I LOVED THIS WEEK

2011-08-21T13:38:00.001-04:00

Happy Sunday! Here are a few things I enjoyed around the Internet this week.

The recipe for one of my favorite dishes at Panera. Woo hoo!
Such a brilliant way to create a a "WOW!" table on the cheap.
This round up of fabulous blogs will keep me glued to my computer forever. So much eye candy!
A great tutorial for make-your-own subway art.
I so need to make something like this for our new house!

If you have a Link You Loved This Week - from your own blog or another - post it here. I love seeing what's catching people's attention!

PINSPIRATION SATURDAY: Cool Back-to-School Crafts

2011-08-20T14:55:00.000-04:00

Today's Pinteresting picks are all fun projects tied to back-to-school.

Art Smock Tutorial
My pin from Patterns by Figgy's at Sew, Mama, Sew!

First Day of School Favors

Pin from The Blackberry Vine via Amy Miller Designs

Crayon Wreath

Pin from Mom's Party Cafe via Kerry at A Pop of Pretty

DIY School Hairclips
My pin from A Little Moore

Butterfly Backpack Tutorial

My pin from Taidye Original

Pencil Initial Artwork
Pin from Two Peas in a Bucket via Sarah Lisi

So many cute craft ideas! I want one of each.

For more school-themed projects and ideas, follow my Back-to-School board on Pinterest, and if you're on Pinterest, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you too!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Back-to-School Party Pack

2011-08-19T12:42:00.000-04:00

On Party Peeks Wednesday, I shared an adults back-to-school bash with fun free printables, so to be fair, today I've got one for the kiddos!

Ana from Love Party Printables designed this set for Catch My Party and I just think they're adorable! The chalkboard napkin wraps kill me.

Even if you don't throw a full-on fete for your little one's return to school, you could dress up breakfast on their first day with the super cute chalkboard banner and toppers! Download all of the goodies HERE.

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: A is For Apple Treats!

2011-08-18T14:35:00.000-04:00

In today's back-to-school themed ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY post, I thought it would be fun to share some apple sweet treats that are perfect for ~~sucking up to~~ giving to your kiddo's new teacher!

Skip to My Lou has a great how to for apple cake pops.

These inside out caramel apples from Hungry Happenings make my mouth water!

You can make apple candy pops with double stuff Oreos, thanks to this terrific tutorial from The Idea Room.

I love these apple rice krispie treats from Gourmet Mom On-the-Go.

Shindig Parties to Go has another take on the Oreo apple pops.

And Shannon from Mommyapolis shared a great goodie over on Oopsey Daisy that your little one can make herself - apple lollis!

With these treats, A isn't only for Apple - it's also for Amazing!

For more school themed fun, check out my Back-To-School Board on Pinterest.

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY

2011-08-17T15:40:00.000-04:00

This week's peek isn't a "real" party, but it may give a lot of you a reason to celebrate!

Wondering what TGIBTS stands for? THANK GOODNESS IT'S BACK-TO-SCHOOL! If you laugh as hard as I do when that Staples commercial comes on where the dad is happily filling a cart with school supplies while "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" plays in the background, then this adult's only back-to-school bash is for you.

Chelsea from Lovely Indeed designed the cheeky printables and shared them over on The Sweetest Occasion. The straw flags crack me up!

I love my kids dearly but sometimes this sentiment rings all too true!

Download all of the fun free printables HERE and if you throw your own TGIBTS party, be sure to send us some pictures! You just might see it in next week's PARTY PEEKS!

Images: Lovely Indeed for The Sweetest Occasion

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

2011-08-16T15:15:00.000-04:00

Here's my round up of a few of my favorite things at this moment.

Project I'm Loving: This Week in the Life Memory Book from Design Editor. Such an amazing keepsake! And psst.... there are free printables to help you make you own.

Book I'm Loving: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. It's amazing!

Fall Fashion Piece I'm Loving: The Colorblock Cuff Top from Boden. Drool....

Sneak Peek I'm Loving: Everything from the Missoni for Target line looks amazing but I especially love the home goods! It all hits stores September 13th.

Home DIY Project I'm Loving: I so want to make one of these rope mirrors!

Simple Tutorial I'm Loving: DIY Chalkboard Paper from Lil Blue Boo. Such a fun and easy way to keep things organized!

Cartoon I'm Loving: I'm so down with this!

Show I'm Loving: Flipping Out. Jeff Lewis kills me, and I swoon over his designs. Just take a look at the wallpaper in the background. Divine!

Wall Art I'm Loving: Bunch of Bees just launched a line of nursery art and I want one of each! I think I'm going to order a custom print for the girls' new bathroom.

Bag I'm Loving: I so want this Onishi bag from Valhalla Brooklyn in Petroleum Green. I hope my mother or my husband is reading this!

Toy I'm Loving: Yes, Gabrielle and Alaina love the Melissa and Doug Magnetic Dress Up kits too, but I have to admit, I have the best time playing with them! Puts me in touch with my inner fashion designer.

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy. These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

FUNDAY MONDAY: Toilet Tattoos {GIVEAWAY}

2011-08-15T15:04:00.001-04:00

One thing that will go along with Gabrielle and Alaina starting their 3's program this fall is potty training! I always figured I'd start once the girls turned three (they haven't show any interest yet) but they have two scheduled "potty times" at school so hopefully that will make them a little more curious. The problem is that Gaby is somewhat terrified of the toilet. I have no idea why but just the mention of sitting on one freaks her out. So when I saw Toilet Tattoos I knew I had to give them a try.

Toilet Tattoos are appliqués for the toilet lid! And I know what you're thinking - don't they get gross? Here's the thing - the vinyl appliqués are removable and and easily cleanable. And with themes ranging from Princesses:

To rocker:

There's a tattoo to fit any style!

Toilet Tattoos sent me an applique to try out and I have to admit, at first I was a little skeptical.

But it took all of 10 seconds to apply and instantly turned our potty from pitiful:

To playful!

Considering we're living in a rental apartment until the work on our house is done, the Toilet Tattoo is an easy and inexpensive way to add some personality to the girls' bathroom. And at just $10 each, you can change them out for any occasion!

There are even toilet training designs, with removable stickers to encourage your little one to do their thing.

I love this one!

Toilet Tattoos come ins two shapes to fit round or elongated seats and can be ordered from their website. You know they're the only tattoos you'll ever voluntarily pay for for your kids!

And I've got great news because Toilet Tattoos has generously offered to giveaway one toilet tattoo to two AFOMFT readers! That's right - we'll be selecting two winners who'll get one appliqué each. To enter, visit Toilet Tattoos and post a comment here telling me which tattoo you'll choose if you win (this is mandatory). For additional entries:

"Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
"Like" Toilet Tattoos on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
Follow AFOMFT and Toilet Tattoos on Twitter (@ToiletTattoos and @AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: Want a quick way to spruce up a boring bathroom? Then enter to #win this great giveaway from @ToiletTattoo at @AFOMFT http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT (may be done once a day - post a comment for each Tweet)
Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends August 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. The winners will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on August 23rd. If the winners do not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Please note that I was sent a Toilet Tattoo for the purpose of this review and giveaway. No other compensation was received. The opinions I've shared of this product are my own and yours may differ.

Images: AFOMFT & Toilet Tattoos

LINKS I LOVED THIS WEEK

2011-08-14T13:58:00.001-04:00

Happy Sunday! Here are a few things I enjoyed around the Internet this week.

Terrific round up of fun apps for the kiddos.
A fab idea for DIY party favors.
I love this great way to get organized! Perfect for a pantry or playroom.
This basement remodel is amazing! The wall gallery, the bar, the color scheme - it's all perfection.
If you haven't already, please read this and make a peanut butter pie for Mikey and share it with the ones you love.

If you have a Link You Loved This Week - from your own blog or another - post it here. I love seeing what's catching people's attention!

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Back-To-School Labels

2011-08-12T13:02:00.002-04:00

We've got more back-to-school goodies coming your way today on FREEBIE FRIDAY!

I love these lunch bag labels from One Charming Party.

And Kori from Paper and Pigtails created a great set of printables for kids with allergies.

They're perfect to make sure teachers and parents on play dates are up-to-speed on your child's allergies.

Hope you enjoyed today's picks and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: Back-To-School Bashes

2011-08-10T14:53:00.002-04:00

Your kids may not think back-to-school time is something to celebrate but once they see these amazing parties, they'll change their tune!

I fell in love at first sight with this sweet school soiree thrown by Little Sooti using free printables from Bird's Party (find them HERE).

I don't know what I adore most - the chalkboard labels:

The pencil apple pops:

The arithmetic cupcakes:

Or the lunchbox favors.

Look at those alphabet cookies! So adorable.

Our fab reader Jenny from Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line threw a book swap party to celebrate the start of school with her little guys and the details are delightful!

This wreath welcomed all of the book worms:

Decorations included book-page bunting, personalized bookmarks and a book mobile.

The guests brought books to swap.

And they got to take home a few along with book plates designed by Bushel and Peck Paper:

And a coordinating tote:

And here's a back-to-school bash from One Charming Party that puts a whole new spin on things.

Everything on that "dessert" table is made from school supplies! Eraser "candies":

Elmer's glue "milk":

And a pencil and rubber band cake!

These parties will surely take the of the sting out of heading back to school and start to get the kiddos excited about what's to come. Are you planning some sort of celebration for yours? We'd love to hear all about it!

If you have a party you'd like to share, e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com and you just might see it in next week's PARTY PEEKS!

Images: My Life My Loves, Paisley Petal Events & Pure Joy Events

LINKS I LOVED THIS WEEK

2011-08-07T15:14:00.003-04:00

Happy Sunday! Here are a few things I enjoyed around the Internet this week.

A very cute party idea.
These iPhone lenses are so going on my Christmas list!
I'm always searching for new, healthy snack ideas for the girls so finding this round up made my day.
My kids would kill for one of these. I'm going to have to make one.
Such a pretty way to brighten up a rainy day.
How on Earth have I lived without this for so long?

If you have a Link You Loved This Week - from your own blog or another - post it here. I love seeing what's catching people's attention!