Graduation Round Up

Although most college commencements have already occurred, high school and middle school graduation "seasons" are about to begin.  That means that June is not only about Father's Day but graduation parties as well.  If you are the proud parent of a soon-to-be graduate, you are probably in the middle of planning for the big celebration.  Looking around Pinterest I found a lot of fun ideas.  Take a look!

Cupcakes and cake pops are all the rage.  Here are 3 inspirations for you!

Bake and Bait made these super cute Graduation Cupcakes

Sweet Simple Stuff shares a great tutorial for these Colorful Graduation Cupcakes

I LOVE these Chocolate Graduation Pops

If you are looking for overall graduation party inspirations check these out!

Kara's Party Ideas shares a great "school color" themed Graduation Party

DIY Design Fanatic shares some great Graduation Party Planning Tips.

House on the Way shares a super fun "Let's Go to the Movies" Graduation Party

What if you're going to be attending one or more graduation parties this season?

Organized Island share some great tips for Graduation Gifts on a Budget

Fave Crafts Blog shares 9 Graduation Crafts

Congratulations to all the recent and so-to-be graduates out there along with all the proud parents!

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Win a $200 Amazon Gift Card, a $200 Target Gift Card OR a Silhouette Portrait.

My friend Amy of One Artsy Mama just reached 4000 Facebook fans and it is time to CELEBRATE!  Yup!  One of YOU will win your choice of....

I've been dying to get a vinyl cutting machine but I LOVE Target and I could purchase a Kindle with the Amazon gift card. If I won I would have the hardest time choosing!  But that won't be my problem...but it might be yours!  Just complete the Rafflecopter entry below.

I'm so pumped!  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to entrants ages 18 and over and ends at 12:00am EST on May 30, 2013. Approximate retail value $200.00. Number of entries received determines the odds of winning. One winner will be selected. This is a giveaway sponsored as a group buy, which means the bloggers pooled their money together to purchase this product for you. All liabilities and responsibilities with the product itself is directly responsible by Silhouette America. Winner will drawn by random.org from all verified entries, contacted by the email provided when entering, and announced on this page at the end of the contest. Winner has 48 hours to respond or prize will be redrawn. Entrant is responsible for the email address they provide, whether through typing it directly or through the Facebook entry method. One Artsy Mama is not responsible for lost, misdirected, or undeliverable emails. All prizes will be awarded, no prize substitutions allowed. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook and we hereby release Facebook of any liability. Information is provided to One Artsy Mama, not to Facebook, and your information is never sold or shared. Facebook, Target, Amazon, and Silhouette America are not a sponsor of this giveaway. Prize is mailed or emailed directly by Amy of One Artsy Mama. Protected tweets do not count as an entry method for tweeting; tweets must come from a public account. Bloggers in this group giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. International entrants are not eligible to receive the Silhouette Portrait unless they provide a valid US Shipping address.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

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Arby's Roast-Beef-atopia!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Arby's for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
When your family is on the road and you need to grab a quick bite, is there one fast food restaurant that is your go-to place?  Well, the "unwritten rule" in our house is when we are out of town we NEVER eat at a restaurant that we have at home.  Following this rule, one of my family's favorite places is Arby's!  The curly fries, the shaved roast beef, the peach green tea....mmmmmmm.
I just found out that Arby's has just introduced, for a limited time, two roast beef sandwiches that use a super yummy KINGS HAWAIIAN bun.

1. The Arby’s KING’S HAWAIIAN roast beef sandwich has an extra helping of freshly sliced roast beef piled high on a KINGS HAWAIIAN bun
2. The Arby's KING'S HAWAIIAN roast beef and swiss sandwich has an extra helping of freshly sliced roast beef along with swiss cheese, chunky pickles, and a creamy dijon spread served on a KINGS HAWAIIAN bun

Don't these look and sound super delish?  Just one bit of this amazing combination of the slightly sweet bun and Arby's  roast beef and you will experience roast beef paradise, or as Arby's calls it; Roast Beef-atopia.
But that's not all.  How does a chance to win an amazing Hawaiian Getaway Package that includes a 4 night trip for two to Honolulu, HI?  Also included is one group surfing lesson at one of the island's premier surf schools, Hawaiian Fire!  For more information, stop by http://www.ArbysKingsHawaiian.com and don't for get to enter Arby’s Hawaiian Getaway Sweepstakes no later than May 26, 2013!
Why don't you and your family stop by Arby's this Memorial Day weekend and try one of these yummy sandwiches?  I just may have to take a trip into Columbus so I can try one!

I'm a Guest Contributor Over at Wait Til Your Father Gets Home

Meredith of Wait Til Your Father Gets Home has a great blog with crafts, recipes and oh, so much more!  She is even hosting a Quilt A Long that's only in week 2 so it's not too late to join in.  She's currently preparing for the birth of her of her second child and has invited some of us to be guest contributors.

I'm sharing a "Mommy Tip" that involves this little gem.

To learn how this Playskool tape player can help you, click HERE.  Also, stay a while and look around.  Meredith has some super awesome projects that you'll LOVE!

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An Old Cheese Grater - Drab to Fab! (Plus a Spray Painting Tip)

When I say "spring" or "summer" what word or phrase pops into your head?  Some of you probably think "gardening", "sunshiny days" or "picnics".  However, I bet some of you think....

"Garage Sale Season!"

Now, we have the most amazing Goodwill store in town that is HUGE with amazing prices.  As a result, I'm not a big "garage sale-er".  However, I think everyone takes everything that didn't sell at their garage sale and makes a donation to Goodwill.  So, more goodies for me to look over.

I've seen a lot of people (via Pinterest, of course) take cheese graters and turn them into luminaries or jewelry holders.  So, when I found one for just $0.50, I HAD to pick it up.  It was a little worse for wear which meant it's time to bring out the spray paint.

Now the beginning of this project, I decided to turn this hand grater into a luminary. I would spray paint it first and then embellish it with some buttons or flowers.

So, here's the before painting and after painting shots.

What do you think? I'm definitely liking the bold colors that are out for spring.

Anyway, I started my spray painting project like I normally do:  gathering my supplies.  I like the Rust-oleum Painter's Touch because it dries to the touch quickly which means I can reapply coats quicker and finish the project sooner.

I placed my cheese grater onto my newspapers and lightly sprayed a coat of paint.  I left for about 30 minutes and then returned to apply a second coat.  (The can says it is dry to the touch after 20 minutes).  Well, we had a "summer preview" day yesterday (89 degrees F and HUMID) and my project was no where near dry to the touch AND my grater was sticking horribly to the newspaper.  Think, Think, Think.

I went inside and grabbed some parchment paper and placed it on top of the newspaper.  Then I applied additional coats of paint to the cheese grater.  It worked GREAT!  The painted grater didn't stick to the parchment paper!

Here's the new updated grater.  I was about to go and create my embellishments when I looked at the grater again. Hmmmmm....

If I flip it upside down, line it with a "pocket" of landscaping cloth, it might make a fun hanging planter!

What do you think?  Let me know if I should use this new, beautiful hand grater as a luminary or a planter?

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Gardening Advice - Your Local Extension Office

Have you put your garden in? Since I think the threat of frost is finally over here in Ohio, I'm going to start putting mine in today.  I am thinking about starting a vertical strawberry "bed" but one of my main challenges is I have NEVER grown strawberries before.  Is there something you'd like to grow but you're clueless about soil acidity, sunlight needs and the like?

Now show of hands, how many of you will search for answers on the internet?  Be honest, now.  Oh, I see everyone's hand in the air.  Next question, and don't forget, we're being honest here.  How many of you will do your searching on Pinterest to see what others have "deemed worthy" of pinning?  Come one, show your hands.  Ah, I see Pinterest is your go to place.

Well, how would you like to know that when it comes to gardening, I have an even better place for you to search for answers and assistance.   It your local Extension office.  Mine is the Ohio State University Extension office - Delaware County.

I believe that most "big state universities" have an extension office which heads up 4-H programs, Master Gardener classes, and other community educational/outreach programs.

Okay, so you're asking, "why is an extension office better than Pinterest?"  Because the information you will receive from your local extension office will help you find the best varieties, planting times, and other factors for YOUR area.  They have handouts for every item you might like to grown in your yard:  flowers, berries, fruit/nut trees, you name it!

I hope the weather is beautiful at your place today so you can play in your garden too!

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Spa Day Saturday - Baking Soda Air Freshener

I don't know about you but one of the things I need to make me feel special is to have amazing smells surrounding me.  I previously shared with you How to Make Your Own Reed Diffuser to help create peaceful and uplifting aromas in your home.  Today, I'm going to show you how to make a super simple "Baking Soda Air Freshener".  Here's What you need!

Baking Soda Air Freshener

Supplies:

1/2 Cup Baking Soda

1 Wide Mouth Canning jar

Essential or Fragrance Oils

Burlap

1 Plastic lid from a quart yogurt container

This project is super simple and so easy to personalize to your tastes and needs.

First off, your fragrance.  You can use fragrance oils that you can purchase at places like Bath and Body Works.  You can also use a combination of Essential Oils.

I chose to use a combination of lime, orange, grapefruit, and lemon essential oils.  Why?  For 2 reasons.  First, the citrus aromas are very uplifting and brighten my day.  Secondly, if I choose to replace my baking soda later (for newer and "fresher" baking soda), I can use the contents for cleaning.....citrus essential oils are GREAT at cutting oil and grease!

Pour your baking soda and approximately 30 drops of your fragrance oil or combination of essential oils into the mason jar.  Stir.

Using the lid of your mason jar as a template, cut out a circle of burlap and a circle from your yogurt lid.  Also, punch holes in to the yogurt lid "circle" to allow the fragrance to disburse.

Place the plastic "circle" and the burlap "circle" onto the mouth of your mason jar, then secure with the lid band.  Shake your air freshener every so often to disburse the fragrance.

Super easy, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly.  What else could be better?    Hope your Saturday is awesome!

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