May 21, 2013

Instagram + Vine Blog Hop | 5/21

Welcome to the Instagram + Vine Blog Hop! If you’re new here, the Instagram + Vine Blog Hop is a party where you link up your Instagram and/or Vine accounts, find and follow new friends, and be continually inspired by what you see in your feeds! No need to have a blog, just an Instagram and/or Vine account!

A quick shoutout to the folks who played along with our last installment of the #ANOWeekend Community Project! The prompt was “NATURE” and I think it was our best turnout ever! There were so many beautiful shots, so if you missed them on Instagram, be sure you go take a look HERE! I hope you join in our community for the next prompt, which will be announced on IG Friday! It was so tough to narrow down, but here are a few features for this week…

Pictures by @fancythatnotion, @staceyrebaza, @songbirdsandbuttons, @gingerguide, @notterossa, @mlourdes24, @shanatant, @musicladydoremi and @dianavanfarley!

Now on to the HOP! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

Jessica | Instagram: @jayemmtee

jessica

You can find Jessica here:
Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

***

Krystle | Instagram: @liferevolvesaroundthem

krystle

You can find Krystle here:
Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

Just link up your new Instagram Web Profile (http://instagram.com/username) -OR- your web viewer of choice in the linky below!

Note: this URL will not let you choose a profile pic from your feed, so be sure you have a picture you can upload from your computer if you use it! If you get a “Error: The requested URL returned error: 500″ error that just means it can’t find a picture to use NOT that your link is bad. Just click on “Direct Image URL” if you have one or “Upload from Computer”. If you still have trouble, try sticking with Followgram or Webstagram to upload your profile.

4. Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

Add your Vine username (so folks can find you) to the list below! Or link up a Vine video so we can see your cinematography at work! This is new, so there aren’t web profiles just yet, but hopefully they’ll be out soon! How do you find your video link? If you post your video on Facebook or Twitter, you will be given a URL that looks like this: “http://vine.co/v/bJegq22datT.” Just link that up below with your username so we can find you! If you don’t have a URL to one of your videos, simply link up your blog URL, but make sure the title is your Vine username so we can find you!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

Tell folks you follow that you found them through the Hop!

6. Spread the word!

Tweet about it, share it on Facebook or post about it on Instagram!

Now let’s link up!

Posted by Kimberly · 1 Comment

Filed Under: Instagram, Instagram Blog Hop ·

May 20, 2013

Outdoor Power Needs and The Home Depot Garden Club #DigIn

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Outdoor Power Needs and The Home Depot Garden Club #DigIn

Hi friends! Last week when we talked about Taking Power Outdoors with The Home Depot Garden Club, I mentioned that for many of us, all the beauty of the outdoors comes at a price. In order to keep that grass trimmed, keep those trees pruned and those shrubs looking their best, it takes some serious tools. And lucky us, The Home Depot offers the latest in power tool technology to make our lives just a bit easier!

We’ve only been in our house for a little while, and that “new house smell” is starting to wear off. Our original landscaping could use a little help this Summer and there is some major cleaning that needs to be done! So I took a tour of our outdoors to assess just where we could use a little help in the “power” department. First up? The lawn.

Now depending on the size of your lawn you may need anywhere from a push mower to a riding lawn mower! In our case and our sized grassy area, we could just get away with a push mower. Don’t tell that to my husband though – what man doesn’t want his own riding lawn mower? And Home Depot is sure to have your mowing needs covered – from big to small! We also have our lawn area edged in with bricks. That means that the mower isn’t going to give us clean edges and that we need a string trimmer. Home Depot also has a range of string trimmers on hand, and with new innovations that make these products lighter and easier to handle, I might even give it a go!

From lawn mowers to string trimmers, the Home Depot has waht you need to keep your lawn ship shape! #DigIn

But it’s not just our lawn – at our house we have a lot of shrubs and small trees. That’s where hedge trimmers come in handy! They make easy work of these fast-growing guys, and keep our landscaping look nice and clean.

Hedge trimmers keep your shrubs looking nice and clean! Check them out at your local Home Depot! #DigIn

Next up: the pressure washer. Now one of these is officially on my list! Now I’ve seen these these babies put to use on HGTV, but I’ve never personally used one and didn’t quite know how many uses they had until now! Light weight pressure washers can be used to clean anything from outdoor furniture and equipment (hello dusty jungle gyms) to patio furniture, BBQ grills and windows! I have all of the above. Medium duty pressure washers can clean siding, decks and driveways, while heavy duty are left to the professionals for paint prep and commercial use.

There are many uses for pressure washers! Check them out at your local Home Depot! #DigIn

We could also benefit from using a leaf blower. Being in Arizona means that a majority of our landscaping is rock. And while that is convenient (not a whole lot of watering or lawn mowing for us), it does mean with trees, bushes and flowers blooming that there tends to be a lot of debris in the rocks. The best way to take care of that? A leaf blower!

But the list doesn’t end there. Home Depot has everything you might need for outdoor power use: generators, wood chippers, tillers, cultivators – you name it, when it comes to outdoor power – they’ve got it.

Just head online to The Home Depot Outdoor Power Equipment page to learn all about it! That’s what I did to do some research on what would work best for our house and how to pick the right power tool. The site is so easy to navigate and there is a mountain of information to help guide you with your outdoor power equipment purchases. From videos, to FAQs, to how-to’s, The Home Depot has you covered!

Stay tuned and next time we’ll take you inside to show you all the power – up close and personal!

It’s home improvement time, and The Home Depot has everything you need to #DigIn for Spring. No matter what projects you want to tackle, they have great values on all you need. They’re ready to help you with renovation ideas and expert advice, too.

Get over $300 in email exclusive savings each year, sneak peeks on new products, monthly lawn & garden ideas for your region and access to The Home Depot’s gardening experts. Click here to join the world’s largest garden community today! Or go to homedepot.com/gardenclub to see some of the many benefits of membership.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Posted by Kimberly · Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Outdoor Living · Tagged With: outdoor power, outdoor power equipment, pressure washer

May 19, 2013

{Giveaway} $60 Starbucks Giftcard

Win a $60 Starbucks Giftcard at anightowlblog.com

Hi friends! It’s time again for the Sponsor Group Giveaway over at Songbirds + Buttons, and since I looooove sponsoring that sweet blog I’m sharing the giveaway HERE! Up for grabs: a $60 Starbucks Giftcard! Now that’s a lotta lattes, right? Or now that it’s Summertime, that would mean a lot of iced coffees for me! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Giveaway is open to US residents ages 18 and over and ends at 11:59pm EST on May 24th, 2013. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. Number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Approximate retail value is $50.00. One winner will be selected. All liabilities and responsibilities with product is directly responsible by Starbucks. Winner will be drawn by random.org from all verified entries, contacted by email provided, 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. A Night Owl is not responsible for lost or misdirected 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 Songbirds + Buttons, not to Facebook and your information is never sold or shared. Facebook and Starbucks are not a sponsors of this giveaway. Prize is awarded directly by Kendall of Songbirds + Buttons and requires confirmation of delivery. Protected tweets do not count as an entry method for tweeting. Tweets must come from a public account. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

Posted by Kimberly · Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Current Giveaway, Giveaway ·

May 18, 2013

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Review + Giveaway!

Disclosure: I received compensation for this review; however, all opinions are my own.

Hi friends! I’m excited to share with you today one of my favorite products – Aquaphor! When they reached out to me to do a review of their product I was ON BOARD 100%. Why? Because the Aquaphor Healing Ointment has been a well-used product in our household ever since we’ve had kids. True story! It’s pediatrician recommended, free of fragrances, preservatives, and dyes, so this multi-purpose ointment can be used for your skin needs from dry, sensitive skin to chapped cheeks.

In fact – I can tell you the first time we purchased Aquaphor. My oldest son was a baby and started teething and we experienced our first bout with SERIOUS diaper rash. You know, not that stuff you can just stick some diaper cream on and call it a day. It kept getting worse and worse, so I called the doctor – being a first time mom and having no idea what to do! The first thing they told me? Buy Aquaphor. And now we’ve owned it ever since.

So when we received our Aquaphor goodies in the mail I was so excited! Not only are our baby items restocked, that we still use on our little guys, but there was advanced Healing Ointment for US! Now I’m going to show you something – but you have to promise not to freak out. I live in Arizona and wear flip flops all. the. time. Now I try to keep up with pedicures (who has the time??) but I do confess that my heels get a little gnarly. But guess what is PERFECT for those dry, cracked heels? Yup, you guessed it. Check this out…

See! No more gross, dry feet. And a quick tip – if you rub some Aquaphor into your feet at night and throw some socks on, you’ll keep your feet looking this way! And in the Summertime (when the last thing you want to do is wear socks to bed) just cut the front part of the sock off so just your heels are covered. Problem solved!

One more quick note about the Aquaphor products (if you’re not sold yet), if you have kiddos that are rough on their lips, the Aquaphor Lip Repair and Protectant really works wonders. My oldest tends to lick and mess with his lips all the time, so they’re always so very dried out and peely. I’ve tried just putting vaseline on at night and chapstick during the day, which help in the short term but it never quite works as well as I want. So I was actually ecstatic to try the lip repair out. And it works! His lips have been in such better condition this week, just from a couple of applications! I’m so glad that I’ve discovered this product because it has really been something that has bugged me forever.

Ok, so now that I’ve told you ALL about Aquaphor and how much we swear by it, we have a little treat! Though Mother’s Day has passed, Aquaphor feels like the mothers out there should be honored every single day! And I agree, so I want to tell you a few ways that my mom has worked wonders in my life…

My Mom and Me

My mom has always been there for me, always. This picture of us is when I spoke at the Revive blog conference earlier this year. She’s not a blogger, but supports every single thing I do, so she bought a ticket just to hear me speak. My mom has always believed in me. From when I was a little girl she told me I could do anything, be anything that I want to be. And I believed her. And I have to tell you how much of a difference I can see that it made in my life in comparison to those who didn’t have that same encouragement or support. My mom has always made sure I had what I needed. Even to this day in my 30s, she checks in on me to make sure that our family has everything they need. She is truly an amazing person – an amazing mom – and everything I strive to be.

What do you admire about your mom? How has she helped work wonders in your life? Share it on the Aquaphor Facebook Page and you’ll have a chance to WIN your own Aquaphor goodies AND a $100 1-800-Flowers gift card! Doesn’t that sound like a fabulous giveaway? I think so! So get your entries in today! Good luck!

Enter to WIN Aquaphor goodies and a $100 1-800-flowers Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Giveaway is open to US residents ages 18 and over and ends at 11:59PM ET on May 25, 2013. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. Number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Approximate retail value is $125.00. One winner will be selected. All liabilities and responsibilities with product is directly responsible by Aquaphor and 1-800-flowers. Winner will drawn by random.org from all verified entries, contacted by email provided, 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. A Night Owl is not responsible for lost or misdirected 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 A Night Owl, not to Facebook and your information is never sold or shared. Facebook is not a sponsor of this giveaway. Prize will be mailed directly by Aquaphor and requires confirmation of delivery. Protected tweets do not count as an entry method for tweeting. Tweets must come from a public account. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

Posted by Kimberly · 2 Comments

Filed Under: Current Giveaway, Reviews · Tagged With: Aquaphor, Healing Ointment, Lip Repair

May 17, 2013

Create & Inspire Party | Breakfast Recipes

Welcome to the Create & Inspire Party!

C&I is a party where you can come by and party along to share your creativity, projects or anything inspiring! You can link up as many projects you want with no rules, all we ask is a little tweet or share this party with your crafty bloggy friends!

Now you can link up weekly with Angie from Little Inspiration and Kimberly from A Night Owl. Double the fun! Now on to this week’s features!

9 Breakfast Recipes

Braided Sweet Lemon Loaf by Twigg Studios | Banana Oat Chocolate Smoothie by Treat & Trick | Lemon Blueberry Pancakes by Natasha in Oz | Pina Colada Pastries by Our Thifty Ideas | Frozen Mocha Frappuccino by Chocolate, Chocolate and More | Buttermilk Banana Bread Scones by Twigg Studios | Yogurt & Fruit Cups by Vintage Zest | Overnight Cream Cheese & Cinnamon French Toast by Day2Day Supermom | Strawberry Crepes by Our Thrifty Ideas

Now let’s get this party started..

Share on Facebook , Pin it and/or Tweet
We will feature the TOP PROJECTS next week and will be directly pinned on C&I Pinterest Board.
Link up as many projects as you want; linking back is optional.
By linking up at C & I, you are agreeing to allowing Little Inspiration & A Night Owl Blog to grab one of your images to feature with a link back.

Posted by Kimberly · 14 Comments

Filed Under: Create & Inspire ·

May 17, 2013

15 Fantastic Father’s Day Gift Ideas from Kids

15 Fantastic Father’s Day Gift Ideas from Kids #fathersday #gifts

Hi friends! Can you believe it? Father’s Day is right around the corner! And if you have little ones – or even older kids – running around the house, they may just want to make something special for good ‘ol Dad this year! So we’ve rounded up some bright and fun gifts that kids of all ages could whip up! I can’t wait to give one {or more} of these a try!

So which one is your favorite? What do you think you and your kiddos might make? I’m really digging the Homemade Treasure Box – it reminds me of the fun Travel Keepsake Boxes that’s been on my to-do list for a couple of months! Do you have a great Father’s Day gift idea? Leave it for us in the comments! I’d love more great ideas!

linked up here, create & inspire, lil’ luna, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls

Posted by Kimberly · 6 Comments

Filed Under: Father's Day, Gifts ·

May 16, 2013

{Giveaway} $75 Target Gift Card

Enter to win a $75 Target Gift Card! Enter Daily at anightowlblog.com

Hi friends! The Grant Life is TWO! And because Kelley is one of my faves, I wanted to party with her by hosting this fab giveaway! I know you LOVE Target. Come on, who couldn’t spend $75 there in 5 seconds? So enter to win today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Giveaway is open to US residents ages 18 and over and ends at 12:00AM CST on May 24, 2013. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. Number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Approximate retail value is $75.00. One winner will be selected for each prize. 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 product is directly responsible by Target. Winner will drawn by random.org from all verified entries, contacted by email provided, 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. The Grant life is not responsible for lost or misdirected 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 The Grant life, not to Facebook and your information is never sold or shared. Facebook and Target are not a sponsor of this giveaway. Prize is mailed or emailed directly by Kelley Grant of the Grant life and requires confirmation of delivery. 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. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

Posted by Kimberly · 55 Comments

Filed Under: Current Giveaway, Giveaway ·

May 16, 2013

Baking For Kate #AlterYourWorld

Didn't they realize that the only way to change things was to act? #AlterYourWorld

Hi friends! Sorry, no Thrifty Thursday post today. Today I’d love to take a moment to talk about something recently that made me pause. Made me step back from my “busy” life and made me want to act. You see, earlier this month Alt Design Summit put out a challenge, a challenge to Alter Your World…

The next time you or your friend does something to better the world, we want to know about it. Did you volunteer at the women’s shelter? Did your friend raise funds for a meaningful cause? Or maybe your friend brightened someone’s day with an act of particular kindness.

It’s been in the back of my mind, then yesterday this act, this act of kindness, hit me like a ton of bricks. Sweet Carrie from Frugal Foodie Mama asked us this week to promote her online bake sale coming up this weekend. And I thought – sure! I help support my blog buds so I tweeted and thought I’d be on my way. But then I read about Kate.

Kate and Kids

Then I clicked around and read some more. And I was in tears. You see, earlier this year Carrie’s friend Kate was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. They gave her a 30% chance of surviving this for 5 years. Presently, she is trying to cross off items on her Mommy Bucket List and create as many memories for her children as she can. She has 3 kids under 5. Enter tears. As a mother of two little guys I cannot imagine what Kate is going through. And while we can hope and pray for a cure, Carrie was moved to ACT. She came up with #BakingForKate – an online bake sale where 100% of the proceeds will go to Kate and her family to fund precious memories.

Want to know where I will be this weekend? Bidding on some sweet goodies for Kate. Want to join me? I thought so. First, “Like” the Baking For Kate Facebook Page – that’s where it’s all going down. Next, head over to Frugal Foodie Mama to get all the details. Let’s make some of Kate’s dreams come true.

Thank you Carrie – for taking the time to alter your world – to alter Kate’s – to alter mine. In a world where busyness consumes, where we fend and focus on ourselves, it’s so refreshing to be reminded just how we can be there for each other. And thank YOU, you who read through this slightly different post today. I hope I see you this weekend. I hope you feel compelled to alter your world.

Posted by Kimberly · 2 Comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized · Tagged With: #AlterYourWorld, #BakingForKate

May 15, 2013

It’s a Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood

The Neighborhood

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing a fabulous and fun site with you – The Neighborhood. Have you heard of it? Well you should, I just love it. It’s a recent discovery, but I’ve been taken by their streamlined design and rich and meaningful content. What is the site all about? You got it – your neighborhood.

“All it takes is a little spark of action. After all, “neighbor” isn’t just something you ARE. It’s something you DO. And there are a million ways to do it. “Neighboring” can be block partying. It can be potlucking. It can be pick-up basketballing and cup-of-sugar borrowing. It can be lost-dog finding. Front porching. Fourth-of-July fireworking. It’s ice breaking. Play date-ing. Yard sale-ing. Honk-and-waving. Capture the flag-ing. Each others’ back-having.” – The Neighborhood Mission

Doesn’t that give you a warm fuzzy? It does to me. As a busy gal, so many times I create my “neighborhood” online. So it’s so great to have a resource like this to find great information. And they cover everything! Seriously – from supplies you need for a hurricane to how to host a children’s community art show. And since I’ve been so “outdoors” focused lately, here are a few projects that really stood out to me:

Check out their tips on how to give the gift of plants.

Or check out their tips on how to plant your own herb garden!

So what are you waiting for? Take a stroll over to The Neighborhood today!

disclosure: I want to win a ticket to Alt Summit from The Neighborhood!

Posted by Kimberly · 1 Comment

Filed Under: Outdoor Living ·

May 14, 2013

{Technology Tuesday} A Beautiful Mess App #abeautifulmess

A Beautiful Mess App #abeautifulmess via 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Hi friends! Welcome to a late-night edition of Technology Tuesday! Why a late night post? Well if you were on Instagram today, your feed may have been abuzz with darling doodles from the newest Instagram app called A Beautiful Mess! It’s an app developed and designed by Elsie and Emma – the gorgeous gals behind A Beautiful Mess – the blog. And because you know I love Instagram, and I love y’all, I wanted to be sure you knew about it! At just $.99 – go snag it now. And I mean NOW. You’re not going to find a better photo app for that price in the market. Trust me – I’ve just about bought them all!

What does the app do? It has fun filters, inspired by the photography genius of Elsie and Emma. You can start with fun backgrounds (I think the library card background is my fave!). You can add text or fun pre-written phrases. And lastly you can add cute borders and pre-drawn doodles (like arrows and speech bubbles). Seriously a whole lotta fun in one little app. You can also buy small add-on packages if there are additional features that you want.

A Beautiful Mess App Screenshots #abeautifulmess

So what are you waiting for? Go download it from iTunes today. Android users, looks like you might have to wait a bit. Let’s hope that the gals are inundated with cash flow that they feel compelled to get a start on Google Play! Oh and a quick shoutout to my fabulous gal pals (shown above) who I think got it right today with their Beautiful Mess photo styling: @mrsemshhh, @theblueeyedowl, @aplaceforus, @fancythingsblog, @blogali, @chevronstitches, @antlersandroses and @bettinakina. Thank you ladies for your continued inspiration!

And if you’re sick of it already – just hang in there. I was dying at first because I couldn’t get on wifi to download it and my feed was inundated, so I get the frustration. But it’s like a new pet, people are all gaga over the puppy stage. Things will surely die down. Oh and for those of you who do snag the app, please don’t doodle up every image. Sometimes less is more – right? I have countless photo apps, but sometimes there’s something to a simple, beautiful image. So let’s go out there and have some fun and let our creativity run wild. See you on Instagram!

disclosure: this is not a sponsored post

Posted by Kimberly · 7 Comments

Filed Under: Instagram ·

May 14, 2013

Instagram + Vine Blog Hop | 5/14

A quick shoutout to the folks who played along with our last installment of the #ANOWeekend Community Project! I almost didn’t get it out on time (last week was craziness), but because of sweet @littlemrshurley, I posted the prompt of “MOTHER” on Saturday night! And I was so pleased to see how many folks joined in. It was fabulous to see snippets of your Mother’s Day and sweet pictures of your mothers and kids. If you missed them on Instagram, be sure you go take a look HERE! I hope you join in our community for the next prompt, which will be announced on IG Friday (fingers crossed)! Here are a few of those sweet mother pictures for this week…

Pictures by @lilmissy001, @msjessi77, @baileygriffin12, @herectsun, @houseofbronzeberry, @dianavanfarley, @mccliff, @littlemrshurley, and @meganpurv!

Now on to the HOP! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

Samantha | Instagram: @hooahandhiccups | Vine: Hooah and Hiccups

Samantha

You can find Samantha here:
Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

***

Jen | Instagram: @jenhatzung

Jen

You can find Jen here:
Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

Just link up your new Instagram Web Profile (http://instagram.com/username) -OR- your web viewer of choice in the linky below!

4. NEW! Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

Tell folks you follow that you found them through the Hop!

6. Spread the word!

Tweet about it, share it on Facebook or post about it on Instagram!

Now let’s link up!

Posted by Kimberly · 9 Comments

Filed Under: Instagram, Instagram Blog Hop ·

May 13, 2013

Sears Style – Ocean Inspired #ThisisStyle

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Sears #cbias #SocialFabric #ThisisStyle

Hi friends! Are you gearing up for Summer? It’s time to update your wardrobe for some fun in the sun! What do your Summers look like? Do you spend time by the pool or at the ocean? This year, Sears has everything you need to look your best poolside, yes #ThisisStyle! What do you think of when you think of beach style? I think of large sunhats, long flowing dresses and gorgeous sandals. So this past weekend I set out to my local Sears to see what ocean-inspired beachwear I could find! You can checkout pictures from my shopping trip in my Google + album.

Before heading into the store I checked out the ShopYourWay Rewards app on my phone for deals and specials going on at Sears. ShopYourWay is an innovative shopping community built around your own social network. It empowers you to quickly find relevant product information, comments and recommendations from your friends. Also, if you use your ShopYourWay card, you also can earn rewards! You earn 10 Points for every $1.00 spent on qualifying purchases and can redeem those points at Kmart, Sears, Lands’ End, Sears Auto Centers, and mygofer. Then I headed into Sears! I had a great time shopping – guess what, kids free! Though the store is certainly kid-friendly, you know how nice it is as moms to just get some alone time, right? When I walked in the door, the store was bright and clean…and so much was on sale! I instantly saw how much I was going to save by shopping at Sears. I had a great time picking out cute, Summer styles and trying them on! But then I came across the Metaphor Women’s Maxi Dress – Scarf Print and I was in love!

The dress is long and flowing, and the colors are perfect for Summer: teal, white and neutrals with a touch of sunshine! So I picked it up, along with some new capris and a lovely teal blouse and headed to the checkout. And of course I used my ShopYourWay card to rack up points towards more rewards!

Now how would you style the lovely Metaphor maxi dress for a day at the beach or poolside? Here’s what I had in mind…

Sears Summer Beach Style by anightowl featuring dresses

Sandals / Shoulder bag / Bracelet / Earrings / Hat / Dress

Long flowing dress, fun jeweled earrings and bracelet, large sunhat, and neutral bag and shoes. What do you think? I love the look! And all of those gorgeous pieces are from Sears! Now I was so excited about my new purchases that I decided to wear my dress out for Mother’s Day lunch this weekend. I started with the Sears Metaphor Maxi, added a light cardigan, some dangle earrings a wrap bracelet and metallic wedges.

And here it is all together!I love the colors of the dress and it was just so comfortable – I know it’s going to be worn a lot this Summer! So what do you think of my Sears style? I challenge you to head out to Sears and see what fun Summer pieces you can find for your wardrobe! You can find Sears Style online, on Facebook and Twitter!

Posted by Kimberly · 14 Comments

Filed Under: Fashion, Reviews · Tagged With: affordable fashion, Sears, Sears fashion, sears style, shop your way

May 13, 2013

Strawberry Box Cake – Tastes Like Homemade!

Hi friends! I hope you had a fabulous weekend and if you’re a mom, that you had a great Mother’s Day! Today I’m sharing a delicious strawberry cake that, yes – starts with a box cake – but you’d never know by the taste! Now, the story behind this cake. Strawberry cake is my husband’s favorite cake. And I’m sure I’m not the only one in history who’s tried a shortcut here and there – right? So when I was shopping for Easter lunch and saw a strawberry boxed cake and strawberry frosting in the store I thought I had hit the jackpot! But then I made the cake. And whoa. It was not at all what I had in mind! It tasted like some kind of strawberry candy – and when most of the cake went uneaten, I knew I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t impressed. So I set out for a delicious compromise.

So like many of our cupcake recipes here on A Night Owl, our Tastes Like Homemade Strawberry Cake starts with a box cake mix!

Strawberry Box Cake – Tastes Like Homemade!

5.0 from 3 reviews

Recipe type: Dessert

Author: Kimberly @ A Night Owl

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 8

A delicious strawberry cake starting with a box cake mix, but tastes like homemade!

Ingredients

1 plain white cake mix
1 3oz box strawberry Jello
4 tbsp flour
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup milk
4 large eggs
½ cup chopped strawberries and juice (fresh or thawed frozen)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix cake mix, strawberry Jello, flour, oil, sugar, milk, eggs and strawberries and juice with an electric mixer until well blended.
Pour batter into a rectangular cake pan or into three round cake pans.
Bake for 33-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
If you’re stacking round cakes, remove from the pans and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before frosting.
Frost with Easy Strawberry Frosting and enjoy!

Easy Strawberry Frosting

5.0 from 3 reviews

Recipe type: Dessert

Author: Kimberly @ A Night Owl

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Ingredients

8 tbsp (1 stick) butter at room temperature
4 cups sifted confectioners sugar
½ cup chopped strawberries

Instructions

With an electric mixer, blend softened butter.
Add sifted confectioners sugar and strawberries (with minimal juice) and mix on low until blended.
Continue to blend on low until the frosting is creamy.
If the frosting is too thin, add more sugar; if it is too thick, add more strawberries.

Well there you have it! The cake is fairly easy and tastes oh so delicious! And if making your own frosting is too much, you could even use a can of frosting from the store and I’m sure it would taste great as well. I think a yummy cream cheese frosting would be fantastic too – I just try to limit the amount of dairy in desserts I make for my boys.

So if you’re looking for a shortcut that won’t taste like a shortcut (ahem, strange-tasting strawberry box cake), then give this a try! Let me know what you think! This is one cake that didn’t go to waste in our home, and I’ll be making it again soon!

linked up here, create & inspire, lil’ luna, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls

Posted by Kimberly · 20 Comments

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Recipes · Tagged With: dessert, Strawberry Cake

May 12, 2013

{Giveaway} $200 Toys R Us Gift Card

Welcome to the $200 Toys R Us Gift Card Giveaway!

Hosted by Giveaway Promote.

Sponsored by author Carole P. Roman.

Carole P. Roman recently released volume four in her award winning series, Captain No Beard!

She’s celebrating the new releases by giving away a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card or $200 USD via PayPal and a copy of each book!

Captain No Beard and the crew of the Flying Dragon welcome a new crew member, when Cabin Girl Cayla joins the ship. Responsible for his little sister, Captain No Beard is not very happy because he finds his newest charge a distraction. When faced with danger, the captain must find a way to escape.

While learning valuable lessons about strangers, the crew realized not to judge somebody because they are young or small. Strength comes in all sizes! Be sure to read “Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas”, Book 4 of the Captain No Beard Series. It is available on Amazon!

“If You Were Me and Lived in…France – A Child’s Introduction to Culture Around the World” is the second book in Carole P. Roman’s remarkable series about countries all over the globe.

With each book covering a different nation, Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Focusing on what life would be like from a child’s viewpoint, she examines the diversity of the people who make up our planet. It is also available on Amazon!

About Carole P. Roman:

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is happy to add “Strangers on the High Seas- A Captain No Beard Story vol 4″ to her successful series. The first book of the series, “Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life” was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2012, as well as received the Star of Remarkable Merit. It was also named as one of the Best Indie Books of 2013 with the Pinnacle Award.

Roman has two other series, “If You Were Me and Lived in…”, a children’s non fiction book on cultures around the world and an introduction to yoga for kids. She lives on Long Island with her husband and very close to her children and grandchildren.

Enter to win a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card and a copy of Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas and If you were me and lived in… France…

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link at the top of the Rafflecopter for even more chances to win.

One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries.

Open Worldwide.

Ends at 11:59pm EST on May 26th, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bloggers, we’d love for you to join an awesome group giveaway event like this one! Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.

Posted by Kimberly · Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Current Giveaway, Giveaway ·

May 12, 2013

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers out there! From our family to yours, we hope you have a blessed day and that you’re able to spend it with the ones you love!

Posted by Kimberly · 4 Comments

Filed Under: Mother's Day ·

May 11, 2013

Taking Power Outdoors with The Home Depot Garden Club #DigIn

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Hi friends! Spring is upon us! What does that mean? Even for those of you who might live in cooler climates than I (I’m in sunny Arizona), it’s time to head into the great outdoors! Spring is an amazing time of year where we can get outside and enjoy the world and nature that surrounds us! The gorgeous trees, the blooming flowers, the thick green grass…

But for many of us, all of that beauty comes at a price! It’s work to get it gorgeous and keep it that way! But have no fear, The Home Depot Garden Club is there to help! With expert advice, how-to videos and monthly to-do lists, The Home Depot Garden Club can be your one-stop source for lawn and garden ideas this season. Also just by joining the world’s largest garden community, you’ll have access to over $300 in email exclusive savings each year!

But The Home Depot is not only about plants and flowers as many of you well know – it’s also about POWER. Yes, you heard me! Who doesn’t love a good power tool? In order to keep that grass trimmed, keep those trees pruned and those shrubs looking their best, it takes some serious tools. And lucky us, The Home Depot offers the latest in power tool technology to make our lives just a bit easier!

Some major innovations this year include hybrid power systems that allow you to use tools while plugged into an outlet AND also switch to battery power when unplugged! Also there are new lawn mowers this year with electric start features! Lithium ion tools are also big this year. They are notably lighter, run longer, can be recharged more often and offer a more consistent charge throughout the life of the battery than traditional NiCad counterparts. Now I don’t know about you – but lighter and longer lasting tools sound great to me!

Just head online to The Home Depot Outdoor Power Equipment page to learn all about it! That’s what I did in preparation for some power tool shopping! The site is so easy to navigate and there is a mountain of information to help guide you with your outdoor power equipment purchases. From videos, to FAQs, to how-to’s, The Home Depot has you covered!

So what do you think? Are you ready to go outdoor power tool shopping with me? Stay tuned and I’ll share much more! Let’s get those outdoor spaces spruced up for some Spring enjoyment!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Posted by Kimberly · 10 Comments

Filed Under: Outdoor Living, Reviews · Tagged With: #DigIn, The Home Depot Garden Club

May 10, 2013

Create & Inspire Party | Dinner Recipes

Welcome to the Create & Inspire Party!

C&I is a party where you can come by and party along to share your creativity, projects or anything inspiring! You can link up as many projects you want with no rules, all we ask is a little tweet or share this party with your crafty bloggy friends!

Now you can link up weekly with Angie from Little Inspiration and Kimberly from A Night Owl. Double the fun! Now on to this week’s features!

Now let’s get this party started..

Share on Facebook , Pin it and/or Tweet
We will feature the TOP PROJECTS next week and will be directly pinned on C&I Pinterest Board.
Link up as many projects as you want; linking back is optional.
By linking up at C & I, you are agreeing to allowing Little Inspiration & A Night Owl Blog to grab one of your images to feature with a link back.

Posted by Kimberly · 18 Comments

Filed Under: Create & Inspire ·

May 9, 2013

DIY Mother’s Day Monogrammed Tray with ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape

Hi friends! Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and if you’re still looking for something thoughtful and handmade to make, you have plenty of time to create this DIY Monogrammed Tray made with ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape. I simply adore all things monogrammed. I think it can take an everyday item and make it personal and special. And isn’t that what you want to convey for Mother’s Day? I also love the patterned trays that you see trending out there, but I knew I could make a beautiful tray for much less!

As an avid DIY and Crafter, there are certain supplies that you must keep on hand, and a good quality painter’s tape is one of them! I have always used and have been so pleased with ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape, and using it for this project was no exception! So let’s get down to how this project came together and how you can make your very own!

What you’ll need:

Wooden tray
ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Delicate Surface with Edge-Lock 2080EL
3 or more shades of acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Vinyl or stencil (for monogram)

And the steps:

Paint the wooden tray all over with one shade of acrylic paint.
Once dry, line the tray with various sizes of ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Delicate Surface with Edge-Lock to create horizontal stripes across the tray.
Paint each stripe with a different shade of acrylic paint and let dry. Once dry, peel off the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape.
Create a square at the center of the tray with more ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape. Paint the square in and let dry.
With a cutting machine, cut a monogram the size of the center square out of vinyl, or stencil and paint in a monogram in the center of the tray.
If you’re using vinyl, once cut, use transfer paper to move the monogram to the tray. You may want to cover with a glaze or sealer to keep vinyl in place.

And you’re done! A simple but elegant project don’t you think? I love the clean lines that the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape added to the project.

And now that the project is done, it can be given to your mother to use for whatever she pleases! Wouldn’t it make a perfect nightstand tray for jewelry or perfumes?

All in all I really enjoyed making the tray and am so pleased with how it turned out! I really hope you’ll give it a try as well! There’s still time before Mother’s Day, or even create one for yourself! If you do, make sure you use ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape! It really is the only painter’s tape that I use and trust to give me quality results! Happy creating!

Visit ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Brand on Facebook!

ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Brand Pinterest page

ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Twitter Page

This post is a collaboration with ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape, but all words and opinions are my own.

Posted by Kimberly · 10 Comments

Filed Under: Mother's Day · Tagged With: ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape

May 7, 2013

Instagram + Vine Blog Hop | 5/7

Don’t forget! Our Instagram-Only giveaway with GroopDealz ENDS TODAY! Simply follow @groopdealz, @anightowlblog and @blogali on Instagram and repost this photo to your IG feed with #groopgiveaway for a chance to WIN a $75 Target Giftcard! Good luck!

A quick shoutout to the folks who played along with our last installment of the #ANOWeekend Community Project! This past weekend’s prompt was “BLOOM” and it was so hard to pick the features this week because the pictures were all so beautiful! If you missed them on Instagram, be sure you go take a look HERE! I hope you join in our community for the next prompt – announced here and on IG on Friday! Here are a few features for this week…

Pictures by @lovejohannalove, @amazingmommy, @rorongigi, @jenhatzung, @lilmissy001, @shanatant, @mamadominiquegoh, @maliakarlinsky, and @staceyrebaza.

Now on to the HOP! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

Diana | Instagram: @mrsdchastain

Diana

You can find Diana here:
Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

***

Sara | Instagram: @saramhinton

Sara

You can find Sara here:
Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

Just link up your new Instagram Web Profile (http://instagram.com/username) -OR- your web viewer of choice in the linky below!

4. NEW! Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

Tell folks you follow that you found them through the Hop!

6. Spread the word!

Tweet about it, share it on Facebook or post about it on Instagram!

Now let’s link up!

Posted by Kimberly · 10 Comments

Filed Under: Instagram, Instagram Blog Hop ·

May 6, 2013

Allegra Allergy Solutions at CVS #MyAllerGenius

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and ALLEGRA® #cbias #SocialFabric
Hi friends! Do you suffer from allergies? My entire family does and today I’m so excited to tell you about the way that we keep our allergies at bay – and that’s with Allegra! I realized the positive effects of Allegra years ago, back before it was sold over the counter and you had to have a prescription for it. I even chose to pay a premium for it at that time because I really believed in how it improved my quality of life, over anything else I had tried. Living in Arizona has pros and cons. We don’t have crazy weather (except for the high temperatures, yes), and it is really very livable. However, in the desert it is dusty and things really grow and bloom year-round. So if you have dust and pollen allergies, you will likely be in the need for allergy intervention.

And my allergy intervention of choice is Allegra! And now that it’s sold over the counter? Even better! A couple of years ago, my husband was so sick with recurring sinus issues and he was seeing all sorts of specialists. I thought we were going to have to go down the road of surgical intervention and allergy shots, but that’s when I realized that only I was taking Allegra at the time. I had him start on a daily routine throughout his seasonal allergy issues and slowly but surely, his condition improved. Now the subsequent seasons he’s taken Allegra throughout and it’s made a WORLD of difference! He’s able to make it through his seasonal allergies with barely a notice.

Until this point, we’ve just relied on “how we felt” to really gauge whether it was time to start taking Allegra. All of us, my boys included, are triggered by different things. However, Allegra and CVS Pharmacy has come up with a new site MyAllerGenius.com that is here to help! On MyAllerGenuis, you can sign up for pollen alerts for your specific zip code.

You can also check out tips on managing allergies and interact with the Beauty App.

You can also download and print coupons for $4 off adult and $2 children’s Allegra that can be used anytime during the year and sign up for emails with additional savings, allergy tips, product news, and bonus offers from Allegra partners.

How awesome is that? I signed up for pollen text alerts because now I can pay attention to when it’s really ok for my boys to play outside and when it’s probably better that they stay inside. If you have little ones with allergies, you KNOW how miserable it can be for them. But you also know, especially for boys, how much they love to be outdoors! Now we can play it safe with text alerts and we also know when it’s a good idea to give them their Children’s Allegra Allergy.

But on top of all that, right now at CVS you can get $6 off Allegra 45ct, $4 off Allegra 30ct and $9.99 for Allegra Children’s tablets or liquid. Sale prices are valid through 5/31 if you have a CVS Extra Care card. And armed with my coupon for $4 off Allegra from MyAllerGenius.com, I headed down to CVS to get extra savings! You can see pictures from my trip on my Google+ Album.

So what are you waiting for? If you have allergies, even just seasonal allergies, you have to see what kind of difference Allegra can make in your life. So head over to MyAllerGenius.com today, sign up for emails or alerts and download your coupon! With the savings you’ll make from the coupon and sale at CVS, it’s totally worth it. Interested to learn more? Consider attending the #MyAllerGenius Twitter Party on May 14th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST! CVS gift cards are up for grabs and you can RSVP here. Be sure to visit Allegra and their social media sites to stay on top of the latest in allergy news!

MyAllerGenius :: Facebook :: Twitter

Like it? Share it!

Do you have allergies like WE do? Discover @allegraotc Allergy Solutions at CVS with #MyAllerGeinus AND get $8 off!anightowlblog.com/2013/05/allegr…

— Kimberly Sneed (@ANightOwlBlog) May 6, 2013

Posted by Kimberly · 3 Comments

Filed Under: Reviews · Tagged With: #MyAllerGenius, Allegra, allergy, CVS, hay fever, pollen, www.myallergenius.com

Now on to the HOP! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

4. Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

6. Spread the word!

Now let’s link up!

Now on to the HOP! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

4. NEW! Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

6. Spread the word!

Now let’s link up!

Welcome to the $200 Toys R Us Gift Card Giveaway!

About Carole P. Roman:

Enter to win a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card and a copy of Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas and If you were me and lived in… France…

What you’ll need:

And the steps:

Now on to the HOP! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

4. NEW! Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

6. Spread the word!

Now let’s link up!

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