December Photo A Week Challenge

Oh look....it's December! Not quite sure how that happened but it did!!!

Can you believe I got my tree up and the house decorated all before December 1?

A first for me!! Insert pat on back! :)

So December 1 means time for a new challenge!

Here's last month.....

week 1: bountiful....of course the Magnolia is full of bountiful inspiration!

week 2:  grateful....for November 11....Veteran's day, my brother's birthday, and our Anniversary!

week 3:  thankful.....for home!

week 4:  meaningful..... pretty powerful quote!

Such a good November!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1: December 5-11

Week 2: December 12-18

Week 3:  December 19-25

Week 4:  December 26-31

Hope you'll join me!!

Have a great week lovelies!

{Freebie} Home Is The Nicest Word There Is Printable

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love all the warm colors she brings, seems like it just makes home a little cozier.  Back in September I hosted bunco and wanted to give a little something to everyone and found this lovely quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder.  It paired nicely with a cool graphic from The Graphics Fairy.  Wanted to share it with you!!

If right clicking and saving doesn't work, I'll email it to ya! 

Enjoy!!

Happy Tuesday!

November Photo A Week Challenge

Ya'll!! I have no idea where fall is!!

Here in Oklahoma it is just now cooler....I wore flip flops all October!

There were a few days where my hopes were up but then it would be 80 degrees the next day!!

It wouldn't surprise me if we skipped fall and went straight to winter!

Time will tell, time will tell.

Here's October's snaps....

week 1...foliage....the good news is, the yard is looking fall!

week 2....cozy....my Secret Sister loaded me up in the cozy drink department!

week 3.......pumpkin....white for the win!

week 4....candy......we collected more candy this year than any other.....thankfully we aren't being pigs but I am a little tired of it taking up counter space!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1:  Nov 1-6

Week 2:  Nov 7-13

Week 3: Nov 14-20

Week 4: Nov 21-30

Hope you'll join me!

Happy November! 

October Photo A Week Challenge

Well I'm a tad behind!

Went on my church's annual ladies fall retreat this first weekend of this month and had an awesome time! I got behind on everything! Plenty of time to jump in this month's challenge!

Here's last month's snaps....

week 1:  bright.....loved seeing beams of sunlight!!

week 2:  enjoy.....I am so enjoying my Cricut!! Made some labels for our retreat goodie bags!

week 3:  welcome.....guess who got to welcome retirement? My daddy!! Proud family moment!

week 4:  relax....finally started a Coffee & Coloring C Group at church and was quite relaxing to visit with some girls over coffee and coloring!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1: October 1-9

Week 2:  October 10-16

Week 3: October 17-23

Week 4: October 24-31

Hope you'll join me!!

Happy October!!

{Recipe} Crockpot Baked Potato Soup

Scrolling through Facebook recently I came across one of those quick recipe videos....you know the ones where they go through the steps in 30 seconds or less.  It was for potato soup in the crockpot.  It looked easy and delicious.  Two of my favorite things! The only thing is, it looked sooo thick! So after reading through some comments I decided to 'tweak' the recipe in true Jennifer fashion.  I also wanted to stretch it to feed 8 instead of 6. I was so impressed with how it turned out I wanted to share before I gobbled it up!

Crockpot Baked Potato Soup

adapted from 12 Tomatoes

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 32 oz cubed frozen hash browns

1 32 oz box low sodium chicken broth

1 16 oz box low sodium chicken broth

1 10 oz can cream of onion soup

1 8 oz cream cheese

1 package precooked bacon, chopped

salt and pepper 

shredded cheese for garnish

optional garnishes: chopped green onion or chives, more bacon

Make It:

Place hash browns, chicken broth, soup, and bacon in crockpot. Stir together. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook on low for 7 hours.

Once the soup gets nice and hot and bubbling, cube the cream cheese and stir in. After an hour, stir to make sure the cream cheese is incorporated. 

Garnish with cheese and enjoy the yumminess! 

*Notes: I had a little trouble with the cream cheese melting through so next time I make it, I may put it in at the half way point.  I had started it early before going to school/work so by the time I got home it had been 7 hours already, then I mixed the cream cheese in. It was still sooo good! And so easy!! I served 8 and had just about 1 serving left over perfect for lunch today!

And as you can see....I like lots of cheese!!

Here's to curl up and have some yummy soup weather!

September Photo A Week Challenge

Well here comes fall!! Anyone else excited like me?

Summer went by way fast and our mini vacay was great!

Now that school has started we'll see 2017 before we know it!!

Here was August's snaps.....

Week 1....family....my favorite part of vacation was feeding the giraffes at the OKC zoo!! I snapped a picture of my boys then handed my phone to my husband and said 'take one of me!' and he thought I was recording!! Ha! Oh well!!

Week 2....capture.....one of my favorite things to capture is a good ole' Oklahoma sunset!!

Week 3.....ready.....totally ready for Lil' Hunkie to go back to school!! Excited for him to learn to read!! :)

Week 4.....routine.....and now that he is back in school I can do some of my fav morning routines....of course this is on a non-working day!

Week 5.....end....August was great!! It's my birthday month so it's always great! I do love when we turn the calendar to a new month, especially one that brings fall!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1: Sept 5-11

Week 2: Sept 12-18

Week 3:  Sept 19-25

Week 4:  Sept 26-30

Hope you'll join me!!

Happy September lovelies!! 

August Photo A Week Challenge

August....the last of summer....the first of school!

Me and Lil' Hunkie aren't ready for school to start yet cause we still need to go on vacation!!

We'll be taking care of that real soon!!! We can't wait!!

Here's last month's snaps.....

week 1:  treat.....snowcones from our local little spot!!

week 2:  sunshine.....went on a dinner adventure one night and enjoyed the sunshine while we waited for our table!

week 3:  fun....oh Snapchat! I may still not fully understand you but your filters are pure fun!! Jennifer the pirate cracks me up STILL!

week 4:  sign....free Rhonna backgrounds are a sure sign of new stuff coming in the app!! Yay!!

July was pretty fun!! Oh! And I loved that my sister played this month and rocked every prompt!! 

So fun!!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1:  Aug 1-6

Week 2:  Aug 7-13

Week 3:  Aug 14-20

Week 4:  Aug 21-27

Week 5:  Aug 28-31

Hope you'll join me!!

Happy first week of August!

July Photo A Week Challenge

Happy first week of July!

Let the countdown to December 31 begin right?!

Here's last month's snaps....

week 1: late.....and I'm late again!! It's summer y'all!

week 2:  summer love.....attended wedding #4 for the summer!

week 3:  letter......some of my favorites, 'xoxo', in sparkler form!!

week 4:  life.....July 4th morning....The Three Stooges marathon....and plenty of laughter! Loved it!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1:  July 1-10

Week 2:  July 11-17

Week 3:  July 18-24

Week 4:  July 25-31

Join me? It's fun!

Have a great rest of the weekend!!

{Freebie} 4th of July Lockscreens

Happy July!!

When I opened up PicMonkey this last week and I was so excited to see Stars & Stripes overlays!!! And I also thought it would be fun to make 4th of July lockscreens to share!

Land That I Love

Lady Liberty

God Bless the USA

Just save lockscreen to your phone by long pressing and then go to your settings and find wallpapers and make it your lockscreen.  

*For personal use only please.*

Enjoy and have a happy and safe holiday weekend lovelies!

June Photo A Week Challenge

Good golly I'm a bad blogger!! 

Yep, it's been crazy around here so my focus has been on other things....I promise I'm still here!

I can't make any promises for this summer as I'm trying to declutter and organize my home some....I promise I'm still here!

I know, I know....broken record!

Here's some exciting news though.....I have a new office!! We finally got them ready and the last 2 weeks have been moving weeks! And we're still not all the way done.......I do plan on showing off my new place but until then how about a photo challenge for June?

Here's May.....

Week 1: Mom......a homemade Mother's day gift from Lil' Hunkie!!

Week 2:  day.......last day of Kindergarten! How'd that happen so fast?

Week 3:  color...... had a colorful weekend full of fun events!

Week 4:  yum......my new fav yum snack....cottage cheese & mandarin oranges!!

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1: June 1-12

Week 2:  June 13-19

Week 3:  June 20-26

Week 4:  June 27-30

When making out the prompts for June, the first two words were 'L' words so I just went with that theme!!

Join me? Sure would love it!!

Happy June lovelies!!

2016 Mother's Day Mantle

Happy Mother's Day!!

I sure did make a mantle in my honor! Lol!

As you can see, Lil Hunkie is a little bit creative like his momma! I thought it would be sweet to display his recent artwork for me on a "Mother's Day" mantle. 

I'm loving my marquee W...someday I will get batteries and use the lights with it!

And I love that this mantle is so colorful! Just like Lil' Hunkie!

Hope your day is sweet!

May Photo A Week Challenge

Happy May!!

Since we had plenty of April showers I'm looking forward to plenty of May flowers!!

And I'm looking forward to this month's challenges!

Here's last month....

Week 1...out my window....our house sits on top of a hill which provides a pretty good sunset view!

Week 2....meal....breakfast and devo time!

Week 3.....tradition....ahh, the age ole' tradition of a bridal shower! Helped host a pretty fab one at church!

Week 4.....quote....also attended a family wedding this past weekend...it was Lil' Hunkie's first wedding and he did so good! That was just as much of a celebration to me as the wedding! It's "always good to celebrate something!" 

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1:  May 2-8

Week 2:  May 9-15

Week 3:  May 16-22

Week 4:  May 23-31

Hope you'll join me!!

Have a great first week of May!

Unique Gift Giving With UncommonGoods

I'm a third generation gift giver....currently working on the fourth generation!

I'm told my Grandma Georgie was a giver, my mother is indeed one and when one of your Love Languages is gift giving, well there's no denying I'm carrying on the family tradition!

I'm also a crafter, a handmade maker. For the last 6 years my son, Lil' Hunkie, has watched his momma make countless gifts from baby gifts to wedding gifts. Now that he is in school the amount of handmade gifts he has made is without a doubt comical. (Evidence in the above photo! He made something then packaged it up all on his own!)  I don't even know the number!  I've learned to just let him be....he's spreading goodness and kindness and compassion and why, oh why should I disrupt that?  He is being his own kind of uniqueness.  And uniqueness is what I try to achieve when gift giving.  Now if you aren't into making things then let me share a place you can go... UncommonGoods.

UncommonGoods is "committed to offering creative and exciting merchandise",  in other words they provide uniqueness.  UncommonGoods gives back with their Better To Give program, which allows customers to choose a non-profit organization to receive a $1 donation at checkout, in other words they are unique.  

Supporting makers while shopping and then giving to worthy causes? Sounds like a perfect place to find gifts for some fast approaching holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day! 

Check out UncommonGoods' Top 25 Gifts for Mothers!

And here's some of my favs....

Bedside Smartphone Vase

How cute would this look on a tray when you serve Mom breakfast in bed!?

Way cute I say!!

Personalized Branch Bracelet

Love this cuff that you can personalize with birthstones!

They have some great Mother's Day collections to help make shopping easy and fun!

And there's Father's Day collections too! One of my favs is a guitar pick maker!!

And how fun is this Donut Warming Mug?

I don't know about your parents, but mine have gotten to the point that they don't need anything so giving unique, fun things has been where it's at!

So happy shopping lovelies!! And Happy Tuesday!

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, but, as always, all opinions are 100% mine.

Thanks to UncommonGoods!*

April Photo A Week Challenge

Oh hello April!!
Seriously, ya'll summer will be here before we know it!

Here's my March grams....

Week 1....new...New handmade goodies for a new babe! I love making baby things!

Week 2....kindness...."Never let loyalty & kindness leave you." Proverbs 3:3 What a great motto to live by! Used the Rhonna Designs app!

Week 3....green....St. Patrick's Day mantle fun!

Week 4....welcome Spring....blossoms from my strawberry plant!

Week 5.....Easter....this Easter was pretty epic.....had our first service in our new sanctuary!!

Kind of a green month!! ☺

HOW TO PLAY 

Simply take a photo inspired by the  prompt, interpret the prompt how you like. Then share on Instagram with #VGphotoaweek. Please use new photos that you take. Please do not use anyone else's photo...this is about you and your pictures. Or you can create a image for the prompt, but it must be something you create.  Post one or many photos per week!

This is how I'll be breaking the weeks up:

Week 1:  April 4-10

Week 2:  April 11-17

Week 3:  April 18-24

Week 4:  April 25- 30

Don't forget to use #VGphotoaweek so I can see!

Happy snapping!!

{Freebie} Easter Lockscreens

Happy Holy Week!

Lots of prep for Easter this week! Thought I'd start out with a new lockscreen and share!

He Is Risen!

background via hippo wallpapers

He Paid It All

flower heart via we lived happily ever after

Happy Easter!

*for personal use only*

Enjoy lovelies!! And Happy Monday!