Pumpkin Spice Frappé Coffee & Crafting Date with a DIY Office Calendar Tutorial

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias #Feast4all

I told you about my office project earlier this week and how much fun hubby and I are having putting it together. It's been a blast gathering materials and trying to design them in a way that really fits our style and our tiny town home, you can check out how the office turned out here. We love taking on creative projects so I decided I'd make one of our weekend morning's together a little more fun by putting together a coffee and crafting date. I really wanted to set the "coffee house" vibe at home so I decided to take a trip to Walmart and bought the supplies we needed to make pumpkin spice coffee (frappés to be exact)!

I was feeling especially fancy and decided to share a video of our adventure to Walmart too:

A video posted by Lauren Paints (@sunkissed_sweetheart) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:12am PST

After I got everything I needed, we headed home and set up our craft station, I turned Pandora to an acoustic station, and poured us the most delicious Pumpkin Spice Frappé Coffee thanks to NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE® Liquid Coffee Creamer in Pumpkin Spice and NESCAFÉ® Tasters Choice® House Blend, you can find my recipe below. We topped these off with a good dose of whip, just the same as they would at a coffee shop and got to work.

Interested in making a Pumpkin Spice Latte or Frappé at home?
Enjoy a flavorful moment of your own.

Pumpkin Spice Frappé Coffee Recipe  Ingredients:  NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE® Liquid Coffee Creamer in Pumpkin Spice  NESCAFÉ® Tasters Choice® House Blend  Ice Cubes  Water  Sugar or Sugar substitute (to taste)  You can make a super yummy frappé at home with just a few simple items and your blender!  Begin by adding the correct amount of Tasters Choice coffee and water (as instructed on package)   and about 3-4 ice cubes into your blender. Blend until it begins to foam a bit. Pour into a glass and sugar and NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE® Liquid Coffee Creamer in Pumpkin Spice to taste, garnish with whipped cream! I meant to add a dash of pumpkin spice seasoning over the whip as well but the coffee were so good, I just forgot and started sipping! Want to make a PSL instead? Just switch the coffee out for espresso!

Now that we have your caffeine fix satisfied, let's get to the crafty fun from our coffee date. I absolutely love how my calendar turned out and since it's such an easy project, I hope that some of you will decide to add one of these beauties to your home.

The best part about these calendars is that you can customize them completely. If you only like shades of blue and green, then make it only those colors! If you are trying to make a calendar to help your kids learn the days of the week, this would be a fun and playful way to get them involved in calendar building. Do you need a super girly chore chart for your little princess, make one! There are so many other uses for these boards - from art work to grocery lists, you can write anything on them!

DIY Calendar/Organization Board  For this project, you will need:  A giant hole punch  (scrapbooking supplies aisle)  Magazines (paint swatches work as well)  A large frame with the glass  Scrapbooking Photo Stickers  You may also need*:  White poster board  Scissors (*I was lucky and frame happened to have the stock photo still, I just flipped it over and used the white side as my background for my calendar... if you don't have that option, I suggest using poster board trimmed to the size of your frame instead!) This project is all about getting creative. If you are using magazines, you'll need to find photos that have patterns you love or spaces of just color without words. If you are using paint swatches, just begin hole punching the colors you want to use. Note that you'll need 35 circles total if you are making a calendar, if you want to make a "waterfall" organization board as shown in my office picture - just get to hole punching and count later! I should also mention the downside of using magazines is that they don't cut as easily with the hole punch as the paint swatches do. With that said, I've found that if I hole punch the magazine clipping with one of the stock paper "mail this in to subscribe" post cards as well, it makes the process much easier. You can see the technique I use showcased below. After getting all your dots cut out, arrange them on your background and use small scrapbooking mounting stickers to hold the dots in place. It's easier to line them up if you use something like a ruler or a piece of paper to help make sure your lines are even. You can arrange your dots however your heart desires, for my calendar I did a semi-ombre effect with my dots and love how it turned out... but then I made my "waterfall" organization board and I love it even more. The possibilities are endless with this project! After getting it all organized, place it all together in frame behind the glass, hang your frame, & get to writing!

We had a blast on our "coffee date", we even laughed our butts off while trying to hang the picture because these stinkin' frames would NOT stay on the wall. We ended up buying some sticky wall hangers to help keep them up but the whole ordeal made for a really good belly laugh... It actually all reminded me of when I first met my husband: The belly laughs, crafting, and coffee dates just like when we were kids and first started dating. The day was perfect and I'm so thankful to have a spouse like mine. Want to have a coffee and crafting date of your own? Use my recipe and tutorial and surprise your sweetie with a fun date today!

Epic Cajun Potato Casserole with Kraft Triple Cheddar Cheese & Andouille Sausage + 6 Tips to Help You Throw the Perfect Friendsgiving Party

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.   This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #TasteTheSeason

I'm so excited Thanksgiving is around the corner and Fall weather has hit Florida with temperatures just cool enough for jeans and a hoodie, it's been beautiful here. While I'm enjoying the weather, I'm also trying out new recipes so that I have a great Turkey Day line up!

I was at Wal-Mart the other day picking up tons of ingredients for this recipe (I'm stocking up on the Kraft Triple Cheddar Shredded Cheese as pictured above) & I also bought stuff to try some amazing new recipes from the Cooking Up Good website. If you want to try out new recipes as well or if you would like the opportunity to win something awesome, I highly suggest you check it out.

While I love trying brand new recipes I'm blessed enough to have many amazing cooks in my family and recipes that are passed down through generations. Among the best cooks in my family are my mother-in-law and my grandmother; they both create works of art in the kitchen that really wow you with flavors.

Since hubs and I are in Florida without most of our family on Turkey Day this year, including our favorite family cooks, I'm starting a new tradition. I want to bake my Grandma's famous dishes while mixing in some tricks my hubby loves from my mother-in-law's cooking while throwing in my own twists - a fusion of styles, if you will. After this re-make of my family's favorite casserole this week I'm super excited to see what other creative adaptions I can come up with!

This Epic Cajun Potato Casserole with Kraft Triple Cheddar Cheese & Andouille Sausage is an amazing fusion of my mother-in-law's Cajun cooking and my grandmother's traditional cooking with little adaptations that make this recipe amazing. I may be flattering myself a bit but this cheesy, gooey delicious casserole is unforgettably good and according to hubby it's a recipe that we'll have to repeat, again and again.

One of the awesome aspects of this casserole is that it can be a stand alone dish all year long or served as a coveted side only on holidays; but be warned, this recipe will probably end up in your "regular" weekly dishes and you may be asked by your co-workers or friends to bring this to every single upcoming event. It's definitely a recipe everyone will be thankful for... With all of that said, I'll get to the good stuff, here's the recipe so you can make this dish for your family and friends:

Epic Cajun Potato Casserole with Kraft Triple Cheddar Cheese & Andouille Sausage  Casserole:  1 bag of hash browns  15 oz cream of chicken soup  1 white onion, diced small  12 oz sour cream  1 bag of Kraft Shredded Triple Cheddar  1 large link of andouille sausage  Dash of Cumin, Coriander, Paprika, Oregano {or a cajun spice blend}  Salt & Pepper to taste  Casserole Topping:  1 1/2 cups corn flakes  1 stick of butter Pre-heat oven to 350°. Peel the casing off of the andouille sausage and sauté until thoroughly cooked, remove from heat and replace with the diced onions, sauté on medium heat for about 5 minutes allowing them to soften a bit. Next you'll combine the onions, sausage, hash browns, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and Kraft Shredded Triple Cheddar Cheese in a large mixing bowl, or if you are into having less dishes to do you can mix them together in your baking dish (as pictured). Stir in a dash of cumin, coriander, paprika, oregano, salt, & pepper to add some kick to your dish. Now spread evenly across a 9x13 baking dish. Place in oven & bake for 30 minutes. When there are only a few minutes left for the dish to bake go ahead and soften a stick of butter. Remove the dish from the oven and spread a layer of corn flakes across the top of the casserole and drizzle butter over the top of cereal, then bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven & serve.

Give your friends and family a little something extra to be thankful for this year, make this dish during your "Friendsgiving" or Thanksgiving! Since it's time to party with friends and family, here's 6 tips to help you throw the perfect Friendsgiving party!

 6 Tips to Help You Throw the Perfect Friendsgiving Party

1. We're going to start with decor! I think a printable is the easiest and most economical way to decorate for the season; printables are easy to switch based on your mood, holiday, season,etc. I love that printables can offer so much color and festiveness in any room! You can find printables online nearly every where, just like this free printable I made for you below!

Click here or on the printable below to and right click to save!

{Just a reminder,  you are welcome to use my printables anywhere - just please give credit wherever appropriate! :) }

2. Serve Delicious Refreshments! Make sure you keep your guests entertained and their glass full while they're visiting. I served my guests some delicious raspberry cocktails and garnished with a fresh raspberry - so tasty and festive in these richly colored mason jars!



3. Get Competitive! Playing games with family and friends on a holiday is a must! I love busting out the cards or scrabble, both games are so much fun and almost everyone can play! Some of my favorite family memories include laughing while playing games.


4. Table Decor is FUN! I'm not usually a big "centerpiece" person (is there such a thing...?), but this year I decided to jazz up our table with some pretty items to make it feel festive. With fresh beautiful flowers from the florist (and my husband) and a few mini-pumpkins - my tablescape is perfect for Fall. Pick up a small bouquet and add it to your table or create something yourself. Not only does it make your table more beautiful, it could provide for some interesting conversation as well!



5. Make Recipes that are easy! No one needs to know if you take short cuts to get more accomplished in less time. Don't take credit for the frozen pie (that wouldn't be honest)... but you can add a few extra items to the top of the pie to make it more tasty. Get creative, make ahead, and relax on the day of your "friendsgiving" event.

6. Think outside the box - You don't have to make dishes that are expected for Thanksgiving either, technically you don't even have to cook! A great alternative would be to ask your guests to bring their favorite dish from their childhood and have a pot luck dinner... Can you imagine how tasty this could be? I would bring my Epic Cajun Potato Casserole with Kraft Triple Cheddar Cheese & Andouille Sausage!

I'd love to know, what party tips do you have to offer? What's your favorite holiday party moment?

     

Cellucor Sports Nutrition: My Weight Loss Stack Review + Coupon

 I was provided with samples of Cellucor to facilitate this review; With that said, I'm super excited about the products and all opinions are my own, I only share what I feel will truly benefit my readers.

So as you all already know, I'm on a journey to get fit this year... While I'm not a personal trainer, I do know that providing your body with the right amount of nutrients while working out is super important. It's not only part of weight loss - it's part of building muscle and just getting healthier in general! So when I had the opportunity to work with Cellucor, a company dedicated to the belief that "results matter", I was beyond excited.

I've only been using Cellucor products for a few weeks but I can already feel a huge difference so I wanted to share my opinion on the products they sent over. I was gifted a few different types of Whey Protein, an Alpha Amino Sports Drink Powder, and Super HD which is a metabolism boosting drink as well as two samples of C4 Extreme, their pre-workout... The best part of being spoiled by Cellucor is that it feels like I'm "cheating" because the drinks are delicious but I'm actually doing amazing things for my body.

I used to think protein powders were for body builders or people trying to gain weight. I finally did some research after seeing a friend use Cellucor products and I learned I was so wrong. Now that I've been spoiled with two bags of Whey Protein from Cellucor in Peanut Butter Marshmallow and Mint Chocolate Chip I'm able to get plenty of protein in my diet and enjoy every last sip of it... especially after learning from Shape magazine and Paul Arciero, Ed.D., the director of the Human Nutrition and Metabolism Lab at Skidmore College, that “Whey is perhaps the most effective dietary strategy to aid weight loss because it is the most thermogenic food source you can eat. This means it burns the most calories after you eat it." With that said, I feel way more inclined to drink my protein every single day! Hello Peanut Butter Marshmallow yummy-ness, I can't believe you actually help me burn fat... I think I love you. 

 

The Alpha Amino Sports Drink is super delicious and is packed with heavy hitting nutrients that help fuel endurance, hydration, and recovery. This super healthy concoction is made with a Chia Seed Extract that contains eight essential amino acids, coupled with Raw Coconut Concentrate's - this means each and every sip is full of nutrients your body needs! If you like to drink other sports drinks but don't like the amount of sugar they have or you simply want to try something new, this Alpha Amino blend is made for everyone so you should give it a try! Whether you are out playing volleyball, hitting weights in the gym, or just running errands Alpha Amino will keep you hydrated while keeping you healthy and is the perfect addition to anyone's daily routine.

I've saved the best for last though, Super HD Powder in Peach Mango is my favorite product they sent over. It's an epic weight-loss product that I have to shout from the roof tops about... I actually have a heart murmur so I have to be careful with products that claim to boost metabolism, simply because most of them just make your heart rate increase. Luckily, this awesome fat burning cocktail is intense yet doesn't offer that horrible side effect that others on the market leave me with. The combination of ingredients not only taste incredible, this drink is aimed at reducing fat storage and promoting better appetite control - the perfect addition to "my stack". I also notice that my ability to concentrate on tasks increases when I drink the recommended serving in the morning, a great substitute for my coffee when I'm just not feeling it.

Just a little shoutout to the C4 Pre-Workout in Icy Blue Razz, it's SO yummy and if you need something to get you ready for the gym on your "lazy" days, I highly recommend taking a scoop of this on the way. I work out harder and longer every single time I take it!

So now that you know all about how I've started using Cellucor products to transform my body, you'll be excited to know you can now receive 25% off your own Cellucor stack with the code CELLUCORFIT! Which product will you choose to transform your life and body?

6 Essentials For Every Home Office + a $200 SkyMall Gift Card Giveaway!

I have a huge announcement:

I officially have a home office space, as an early Christmas present to myself and my blog I decided it was time to get off the couch while blogging and get into a more productive spot. Now that I have a designated work area, my life has changed completely. Havinng an office has helped me establish "working hours", something I never really laid out before. This has made me more productive and creative, so you could say I kind of love my little office space.

When I say little, I mean my gorgeous desk is able to fold up and out of the way if I need it to, and this is perfect since my office is technically part of my living room still... I suppose you could say I commandeered a corner of the room when I saw the The Fold-Out Convertible Desk on SkyMall.com made by SEI. I knew it would be perfect and our living room re-design started that day! Now that we've rearranged things a bit, this space feels so much larger and more open with more in it! 

I love the clean lines and the beautiful stark white color of my fold-out desk. The hanging of the desk was an adventure but not too incredibly complicated and that's the only assembly involved. The quality of the desk is perfect, it's sturdy, and even offers a little bit of storage space - everything you could ask for in an office desk.



I decided I really wanted to make my office my own once I set up the fold-out desk, so I began to add some flair by bringing in a fun piece of art work, a few personal pictures, a set of organization boards, adorable office accessories, and some fun knick-knacks! {Do you like the organization/dry erase boards? The Calendar, To-Do List, and Quote are all DIY and I'll be sharing a tutorial in just a few short days!}

I almost have my little office area organized, but I'm still wanting to add a few more things: a small plant for the top, maybe a few more folders so I can keep papers organized in the little pockets the desk offers, and maybe just a couple more pretty little things to add to the shelves because why not?

Today I want to share with you the 6 Essentials for Every Home Office:

1. Organizational tools - You should always try to keep all of your statements, invoices, etc. organized, even if you just opt to scan every single file - you need a way to store your important documents. I have the fun little pockets feature on the desk, as well as a filing cabinet that isn't pictured. I also highly suggest adding a calendar, planner, etc.

2. Get artsy - Put something fun, colorful, or inspirational in your office space. Encourage yourself to get things done with a quote by your favorite inspirational speaker or paint a cute picture of your dog. Whatever you want to add to your space to make you smile; make it, print it, photograph it, and hang it up.

3. Clear work area - I'm using my fold-out desk as my large work area, I want it to always be free from clutter. My laptop and a few other items are the only things I want left on the desktop regularly. This should be a goal in every office: don't overload your desktop. If you don't have the fun storage cubbies on your desk like I do, then think about installing some shelving or getting some storage bins. You'll love having your desktop clear of clutter and I promise it'll make you more productive!

4. Accessorize - Now that I've explained how not to clutter up your accessories, I highly suggest you add in some fun elements to your desk. I have an adorable set of matching clipboards and post-its so I use these as both functional pieces and gorgeous accessories! I have a few pictures on my cork board that the fold-out desk features, both photos reminding me how much I have to be passionate about; my family is amazing!

5. Let it burn - I highly recommend a candle in your home office, because they help relax a space and make it smell delicious! I love having a vanilla or lavender candle because both scents are soothing to me, I suggest using a scent that comforts you and makes you feel all warm inside. You want to be in "your happy place" while in your office, don't you?

6. Relax -  Add something to your office that helps you feel calm. Whether it be a stress ball, a yo-yo, or in my case, a small meditation garden. It's good choose to have something relaxing that offers mindless entertainment... It'll help get your creative juices flowing again when feeling a little drained.

Now that I've shared everything you need for the perfect office space, here's your chance to win a $200 SkyMall Gift Card. Have you seen some of the amazing prodcuts SkyMall offers? They have a little bit of something for everyone and with $200 to spend, I want to know which items are on your wish list this year?

Enter to win with the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: I  received one or more of the products mentioned above to facilitate my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.This contest will run through December 1st at  11:59pm EST. Must be 18 years or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter,etc. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to any other entity, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Anything Goes November Giveaway Hop: Winner's Choice $50 Gift Card

Welcome to the Anything Goes Hop!

This hop is hosted by The Review Wire and The Frugal Find. All participating blogs are offering a prize of at least $15. Now is your chance to seek out some awesome prizes for those on your Christmas list, but you berry hurry the hop ends on November 24th! Both The Review Wire and The Frugal Find are offering a prize you don't want to miss!


It's the time of year to be thankful for everything! I'm super thankful for a wonderful life and getting to share it with you guys! I'm also super grateful and what to show my gratitude by giving away a $50 gift card of the winner's choice. This means if you want to go on an Amazon shopping spree, I'll support it. What about a trip to Forever21 or an online splurge at ModCloth? I've got you covered.

Enter to win using the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 24, 2014. The Anything Goes Event Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Companies and bloggers, if you would like to participate in group giveaway events like this one, sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Review Wire Media.