Sunshine in my pocket

Dose of Sunshine Monday — Today I Plan to

By KariV on May 13, 2013 in Favorite Things, Inspiration

It’s Monday ALREADY! The weekend seemed to fly by and now it’s time for a fresh new week. Well, I have to admit, today I woke up thinking of all the things that had to be done this week and it was exhausting just thinking of it. Ever have thoughts like that?

So then another thought popped into my head: what if today I just had one plan? So here’s the plan:

And I’d like to remember to appreciate beautiful nature. (This picture was taken at the Amazing Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California. See review and more pictures of the flower fields here.) So it’s two for the price of one today! What are your plans for this Monday? Sending you blessings for an awe-inspiring week!

Comments { 0 }

Easy Mother’s Day Card

By KariV on May 10, 2013 in DIY, Mother's Day, Paper Crafting

Mother’s Day is right around the corner! I can’t believe how fast these days are flying by. But I was inspired to create a Mother’s Day card by something my grandmother always tells me. She is in a nursing home after having a stroke and heart attack. She is such an inspiration to me because even in the middle of her recovery at the hospital, she told me a joke!

Each Friday I take her lunch. As I leave each time I tell her that I love her and she replies, “I love you more.” <3

So this card is designed around that sentiment. I hope you enjoy!

The flowers are made from tissue paper cut out with a small 7/8″ scallop punch. The “stems” are made from baker’s twine. I made a short video how-to for you.

And now, as promised, here is the sentiment I made.

You can download it free here, but please first like my page (in the right hand sidebar)

Then download it here:

5-13 Love you more sentiment free download.

Have a lovely time celebrating mothers, grandmothers, and amazing women this weekend!

Linking up to the challenge: http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

Comments { 2 }

Taste Test Tuesday — Ben & Jerry’s Faceoff

By KariV on May 7, 2013 in Favorite Things, Taste Test Tuesday

When we go on vacation to the beach it’s tradition to get each of us our very own container of ice cream. And we are very traditional. So this trip was no different. We love to pick out our own ice cream and eat it over the course of the vacation stay.

So of course we decided to turn it into a FACEOFF…and use it as our Taste Test Tuesday. So I must warn you in advance, that this taste test Tuesday is informal and unofficial. We had only my husband & I as the judges and we didn’t attempt to increase the panel (I think we were so into this taste test and we wanted to keep it to ourselves!)

The contestants: “Everything but the…” VERSUS “Half Baked”

Everything but the = A collision of chocolate and vanilla ice creams mixed with peanut butter cups, Heath Bar chunks, white chocolatey chunks and fudge covered almonds.

Half Baked = Chocolate and vanilla ice creams mixed with gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough & fudge brownies.

Wow. Those both sound delicious! Which one would you choose if you had to pick one to enjoy while on vacation?
If you know me at all, it is probably very obvious which flavor was mine. And, while both these flavors were very, very good…there was a clear winner that we agreed upon completely. (And it was MY flavor!)

The WINNER IS:

Have you even TRIED this flavor?! Yum. I was delighted to finish of the entire carton over the course of a few days. 🙂 Sigh. And now we are on an ice cream break. No more until the next vacation.

What is YOUR favorite flavor? I’m saving up ideas for my next carton choice!

OH, and before you go..if you haven’t seen it yet, check out how Ben & Jerry’s placed in our Vanilla Ice Cream Taste Test here:

Comments { 0 }

Dose of Sunshine Monday — Make Your Life Happy

By KariV on May 6, 2013 in Inspiration

Hello, Monday! I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness and contentment this week. To make our life happy is something we have control over because it has a lot to do with our mindset. I had a business coach who would continually tell me to MAKE it a good day. Or MAKE it a great week. He would tell me that I could do this by making a goal to concentrate on being happy. I love to write about happiness and this week I will share more ideas for being happy. But until then, I will share with you this thought from my coach:

Make it a happy life! How are you doing with this?

Comments { 0 }

fiesta-tag-printable-small-withlogo-FLAT

Cinco de Mayo free printable

By KariV on May 4, 2013 in Freebies, Holidays

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, which for us means homemade Mexican Food! I have been out of town so I haven’t had much time to prepare or plan this year. But that is not going to stop me from still having a delicious menu and bright colors to decorate with!

If you are prepping last minute like me and need some colorful printables, I have one for you (actual size 2″):

All you have to do is download, print and cut.

Use this on your table (I’m using it on my plates to add a little flair!), as a fun sign for food (think guacamole) or as a cupcake topper. My favorite idea is to tape 2 of these back to back on a long shish-kabob skewer and put it in a vase with flowers. I’d love to see this in a bouquet of sunflowers!

Our menu plan is: Carne Asada tacos with all the fixings, homemade garden salsa, chili con carne, and corn chips. For dessert: Fruit Salsa and cinnamon pita chips. I found some beautiful mangoes, apples, pears, blackberries and kiwi for our fruit salsa. Ole!

And because my husband insisted we may also be having TAPIOCA PUDDING! (Does that even qualify as an approved dessert on Cindo de Mayo?!) Either way, it is delicious!

Here are the free printables for you: (be sure to like my page first here:

Then download the printables with the link below this picture:

fiesta tags full page (personal use only. I’d love for you to share these, but point back to my site for credit. Please do not alter, sell, or claim as your own. Thanks!)

I’d love to hear about your plans for Cinco de Mayo.

Comments { 0 }