Top 10 Posts of 2013

 This time of year, I love reflecting on all the changes and growth we had in 2013 -- in life and on the blog. Thank you so much for following along and reading what I have to share. This space has been a creative outlet for me and, I hope, a springboard into some exciting changes in 2014!!

Here are the Top 10 Posts - thanks to YOU! - of 2013.


10. Spring Twig Wreath

9. Chalkboard Sign Makeover

8. DIY Washer Pendants

7. Personalized Valentine's Day Fortune Cookies {Insert your own message into a fortune cookie? Yes, you can!}

6. Garage Organization - sport's equipment {This one won the "Man Approved" Award!} ;o)

5. What I Wore - <>>What I Wore Collection

4. Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

3. Mini-Man Cave {This one is my personal favorite, because my boys and their friends use it every day!}

2. Frozen Inspired Christmas Wreath

1. Medal Display {This one is another personal favorite - I hope to add another medal to this display in January!}

 Thanks again for reading and following along!! Did you write a 2013 post? Share it with me in the comments or on Facebook! {Links below!}

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sharing here: The Foley Family Unedited

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Elevate Blog Conference {Recap}

Have you ever been to a blog conference? If you have, then you know why I'm so excited to share about Elevate!! It is the best Orange County conference a girl could ask for! And if you have never been to a blog conference -- I highly recommend Elevate! {After you check out all these pics, you'll see why!}

{All photos credit to Lora Knight Photography except the ones marked "Shaped by Grace."}

What I love about the Elevate Blog Conference:

1. They keep it small. They only sell a limited number of tickets so that there is plenty of time to meet and speak with everyone. (And it works!) The conference felt so intimate - I loved being at different tables and in different groups to meet and make new friends!

 

 

2. They have AMAZING speakers! Seriously! Last year I got to meet Holly at 504 Main and Ashley from Little Blue Boo and this year --- they did not disappoint! This years speakers included Sarah from Penelope Lane Boutique, Kimmie from Sugar and Dot, Erin from Living in Yellow and Ashley from Little Miss Momma. {I KNOW!! I'm getting star struck just writing this out again!}

 

{Ashley from Little Miss Momma -- and ME!! Squeal!} 

 

Do you ever wonder if a blogger is like their blog posts or a lot different? Well, these ladies are just who they are - on and off the blog. And just as wonderful. They all had a unified message -- BE YOURSELF on your blog. Find your voice and share YOUR STORY.

 

 

3. We get to have craft time! Every year (okay, there has only been 2 so far) they provide a craft for us to create. This year it was nail art where we got to hammer nails into distressed wood and create a design. I chose the outline to California and added the heart (Thanks to guidance by Nichole from Yeung Mother Hubbard) where Southern CA is because that's where I'm from. I loved the end result:

 

 

 

This sign is hanging up proudly by my front door and I know it will be part of my home for a long time. :o)

 

4. We are part of a service project. I love that each year Elevate has a service project. This year's project was for us to cut out patterns for an organization called Sole Hope that makes shoes for children in need. It's a great cause and I encourage you guys to look it up and throw your own shoe making party! It was also great chance to meet and bond with more ladies at the conference!

 

 

 

5. They have awesome food and decorations!! I will let you take in all the eye candy that was this conference. I tell you, the people I met were the best part of the day, but it's fun to meet and greet around delicious food and tons of cute decor!

 

 







 

 

6. Friendships!! I get to reunite with friends and meet new blog friends in person!! I was so excited to meet Megan from Absolute Mommy, Kristine from The Foley Fam {Unedited} pictured below

 

 

 

and hang with one of my bloggy BFF's Renee from Coffee-n-Ink -- she is always smiling and full of love and connecting people! I'm so happy every time I get to hang with her!!

 

 

 

7. We get to play games!!! (If you know me -- you know I like games!!) It's more bonding time and TONS of fun to do all the tasks!

 

 

I loved sharing in the day with each one of these beautiful ladies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of all, I have to thank these three ladies for all their hard work, dedication and time to put together this entire conference for us! We are blessed by your time and talents! Thank you!!

 

 

{From left: Jen from Delightful Deets, Summer from Made by Munchies Mama and Nichole from Yeung Mother Hubbard.}

 

If the pictures weren't enough - here is a video that Lora Knight put together that captures the essence of the event. Enjoy!!

 

Would you like to go to a blog confernece? I highly recommend Elevate! It's every year in May!! See you there! ;o)

Mark Montano Book Giveaway!!

Woohoo! Let's start the new year off right with a giveaway!

I'm so, so, SO excited to offer you this giveaway today!

Some of you may remember when I went to the So Cal Blog Social. It was there that I got to hang out with some old and new blog friends and we all got to meet and hear Mark Montano speak! He was lots of fun, shared about himself and growing as a craft guru and was an all around nice guy. He was even kind enough to see my friends and I eating lunch and sit and chat with us for a while!

As you can see - I was super excited to meet him! And I was even more excited to get a (SIGNED) copy of his book! So, when the opportunity came up to give away one of his books -- I jumped at the chance! I'm so thankful that Mark chose my blog as one of the blogs who got to give away his book. And not just any book! His NEW book -- "The Big Ass Book of Bling" - full of some amazing crafts!!

Here are just a few pictures of all the awesome projects found inside his book of BLING:

 

 I LOVE that shrug with ruffles (the shruffle) and the pearl cuff! There are so many great project ideas in his book that it was hard to choose only a couple to highlight here!


But, that's no surprise -- when you meet someone this fun - you know their book is going to be a lot of fun too!!

 

 Thank you again to Mark for allowing me this opportunity to give away his book on my blog and for sharing his gift of crafting with my readers!! Good luck everyone!!

 

So let's get started! One lucky winner will get your very own copy of the "Big Ass Book of Bling!"

 

 

 

 

Ready, set, go!!

 

 

 



 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CranApple Crunch

I love baking and one of my favorite desserts growing up was a cherry crunch my mom used to make. Over the years the recipe has morphed and changed into a variety of flavors depending on the season and my mood, {but really, nothing beats the recipe my mom used to make!!} Maybe it’s because she poured so much love into it.

Well, here is my seasonal take on mama’s recipe – and yes, I added extra love just for you:



You will need:

• 1 box of your favorite yellow cake mix
• 1 10 oz. can of whole cranberries in sauce (or make your own with fresh cranberries)
• 1 14oz. can of apple pie filling.
• 1 – 1 1/2 sticks of butter

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pour the apples in the bottom of a 9x13 pan and spread evenly
2. Pour the cranberries on top on the apples and carefully spread evenly
3. Pour the yellow cake mix evenly (do you see a trend here?) on top of the cranapple mixture. Don’t press too hard, just gently spread across the top!
4. Pour the butter evenly on top of the yellow cake mix. I used one stick but wished I used two.
5. Spread the butter (you guessed it – EVENLY) over the yellow cake mix.
6. (OPTIONAL: pour cake mix into a bowl, then add butter and mix to a crumble, then pour on top of your fruit.) Believe it or not, both methods work!

BAKE at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes depending on your oven until the top is a golden brown:





Let cool and enjoy!!

Do you have a favorite family recipe you make over the holidays? Let me know in the comments! Happy Thanksgiving!

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for your chance to win a jute growth chart 

and a $10 iTunes gift card!! Enter here!

I’m sharing this recipe here and at the Get Your Chef On Link party with Four Marrs and One Venus and White Lights on Wednesday!

SoCal Blog Social {Recap}

Southern California has a very active blogging community and I am so excited to be a {small} part of it! One event I have been DYING to go to was the Socal Social, because it’s so close to me in Orange County!! Plus, I got to hang with some blog friends I’ve been getting to know – such as Delightful Deets, Made by Munchies Mama, Yeung Mother Hubbard, 504 Main, Renee from Cover to Cover and more!!

This event {which includes a swag walk, dinner and guest speaker, Mark Montano from HGTV!} was wonderfully organized by Bev at Flamingo Toes and Vivienne at The V Spot. These ladies seriously did an amazing job! It was so fun to meet new bloggers and reconnect with old blogging friends!




So many cute things to see at all the shops! I wish I had taken more pictures!!!




Some of the shop owners stopped to tell us more about their shop. We got delicious coffee at this shop AND I just loved that light blue bench inside!


 

I also loved this reading nook in the children’s toy store! So did some of my friends.


 

Having fun on the walk!!


 

And I am in LOVE with signs. I seriously want every single one of these in my house. Somewhere. Every. Single. One. xoxo


 

If you follow me on Facebook then you’ll remember that when we stopped for lunch at Paris in a Cup, we ended up hanging out with HGTV’s Mark Montano!! He was so nice and fun to talk with! {And yes, I am still star struck. lol}


 

After the swag walk it was off to dinner! The table scape was beautiful and the food was DELICIOUS!!


 

After dinner we got to hear Mark Montano speak –




and as part of our ‘swag bag’ we got his brand new crafting book all about BLING!!! Yay!!! {Jumping for joy!!!}


 

And oh yes I did get him to sign my book!!



 

After Mark spoke there were a lot of items raffled off aaaaaand….. I won one!!!

Me so excited to hold my necklace and $25 gift certificate to Christine and Co. Design! 

Woohoo!! Free stuff, food, winning AND Mark Montano all in one day?? Yes, it was awesome.
Thank you SO much to Vivienne and Beverly – you girls did an awesome job in organizing everything for this fabulous event; it was so much fun and I can't wait for next year!

If you have a chance to attend a local meet up like the Socal Social, I highly suggest you go, you will LOVE it!

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