DIY Dog Silhouette Painting Tutorial and Finding the Formula Right for Your Dog with Purina® Pro Plan®

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ProPlanPet #CollectiveBias

So I'll be the first to admit, my dogs are two of my best friends. While they may not be able to speak to me, we have quiet the unspoken bond. They both are super expressive and with completely opposite personalities our house if full of entertainment and fun...

PowPow, originally named Miley - but renamed when we had a daycare in our home years ago by one of the children, is our little rebel. Although she can be hardheaded at times, she is the biggest sweetheart you'll ever meet. She will be the first to protect her family but also the first to cuddle up in the lap of a complete stranger. We really aren't sure what she is, other than an adorable dog... She's fast, she's funny, and she loves her family and we love hearing what breeds people think she may be. She was adopted at only a few months old from an animal shelter, where they told us she was found wondering along the highway. Her past is a mystery but her heart is full of love and loyalty.

Gnarly, our little "talkative" troublemaker is always getting into something michevious but is as smart as a whip. He's a ham when he hears the words treat, walk, or bye-bye and we are pretty sure he's even figured out how to spell treat now. He knows every trick in the book and is eager to learn whenever we try to teach him something new. He was adopted when a lady on Craigslist said she had to give him up, we were told he was six months old and a toy poodle... Well, he must have been six weeks old because he was itty, bitty when we adopted him but has since ballooned into an adorable miniature poodle. He always has been a super loving little guy and although he can be a little too talkative at times, it's truly a blessing to have a dog that can pretty much tell you what he wants/needs.

As you can probably tell, I brag about my dogs as if they are my children... These two are my fur babies! We've always kept photos of the babes around the house, like most people do with their family members. But lately I've been feeling extra creative and I decided I want to make a piece of art that represents them, then it came to me...

Silhouettes are a super easy and inexpensive way to capture their likeness without a whole bunch of technical work! I decided to make a day of it, I created a doggie silhouette piece of pop art and then treated my fuzzy little helpers to a savory bowl of Purina® Pro Plan®, a new food full of nutritious ingredients! We had the best day ever and my picky little eaters gobbled this food right up! So I guess you could say I'm a pretty happy dog-mom right now, especially because the paintings turned out adorably!

I just couldn't keep this fun DIY project to myself so today I'm sharing how I made these adorable one-of-a-kind doggie paintings.

Take a photo of your dog at whatever angle you want to capture in your silhouette, a side angle is fun. Just get creative and try to imagine just the outline of your dog, so you have an idea of what your gorgeous piece of art will look like. 

After you have your photo, you'll want to begin by editing the picture of your furry friend. Make sure you change the image size to fit your dog's image perfectly on the canvas. I made my pictures 9 inches in height to fit on a 12x12 canvas. You can easily just use the original image of your dog and begin cutting out the image manually, at this point. But I wanted to use an actual silhouette to paint over. So I "cut" my dog from the original image using photoshop and made both pictures into silhouettes  using blending effects,. Print your photo of your dog, cut your dogs shape out from the paper, and now the real fun begins.

You'll want to tape the image of your pup down to your canvas so that it doesn't move around while you are painting around it. Use enough tape (or scrapbooking stickers) to ensure that your photo is held down well.

Once your image is taped down, choose a paint color and use a decently sized brush to paint around the silhouette. Paint with brush strokes that are only in a direction heading away from the silhouette, allowing the outer edges of the silhouette to really be in stark contrast with the white silhouette you are creating.

After your paint has dried, remove the paper photo from the canvas and stand in awe while you admire your work.

Add a little heart with a paint brush and call over your dog, it's their turn to get crafty!

Dip your pups paw into a non-toxic, acrylic paint and then place the paw over the heart you painted. Remove additional paint on paws with a baby wipe or a wet paper towel!

Ta-da! You have an adorable creation that you and your doggy made together, something you can cherish forever and a truly one-of-a-kind work of art.

Now that you have a special piece of art, it's time to treat your dog to something tasty to thank them for helping you out! My pups and I took a trip to PetSmart and found everything we were looking for! We found treats that make them smile from ear to ear, a new bone that'll be perfect for chewing when they need something to entertain themselves, and we even found a food that had everything I was looking for nutrition-wise while it still offers a taste they absolutely love! Our trip to PetSmart was a total WIN!

Purina® Pro Plan®'s goal is to give your dogs the nutrition they need to be their absolute best, while helping them to be energetic and resilient. They also provide them with the nutrients they need to maintain an ideal body condition, healthy skin, and a stunning coat - a dog's diet is so very important to their health & well-being. Purina® Pro Plan® is made with real chicken, beef, lamb, or salmon and that real meat is the #1 ingredient found in all their dry formulas, something that my poodle has been singing about since we picked up a bag!

I love that all the ingredients are high quality and each and every ingredient is chosen for a specific purpose, no filler ingredients means that my dogs can live healthier and happier lives! They want the best for every dog and since every single dog is different, Purina® Pro Plan® products can be found in five specialized platforms. Each one containing products formulated for a dog's taste preferences, age, dietary considerations, and activity level.

Your dog deserves to have the food he's been day-dreaming about so don't forget to visit the Purina® Pro Plan® MyPLAN website to get your dog's MyPLAN recommendation and a rebate offer for a free bag of Purina® Pro Plan® Dry Dog Food (4-6lbs, up to $18.99.) This offer is only good in U.S.A. A.P.O's, F.P.O's. Void where taxed, prohibited, restricted. Allow 6-8 weeks for shipment. LIMIT ONE REQUEST PER INDIVIDUAL, ADDRESS, or EMAIL ADDRESS. Offer expires 04/30/2015. See full terms.

Gnarly wants you to treat your pooch to something delicious today!

Spring/Summer Beauty Routine Secrets and a Giveaway

I'm super excited about spring and summer weather rolling in, but that also means that I'll be spending TONS more time in the sun! This not only means that my skin will officially become sunkissed again, but that I need to moisturize and protect my skin every single time I go out!

Luckily, I've found Ageless Derma Daily Moisturizer With SPF 35+! Ageless Derma Daily Moisturizer is my go-to product when I know I'll be spending time outside, it's my first layer before foundation when applying make up, and when my skin gets dry I immediately apply this soothing moisturizer!

The best part about this Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen from Ageless Derma is that it utilizes a Safflower Oleosomes technology system to deliver broad-spectrum protection from ultraviolet (both UVA and UVB) sun exposure! This unique patented delivery system allows for maximum penetration of the moisturizing sunscreen, giving the user the most reliable and powerful sun protection combined with the highest levels of hydration!

Want to win a bottle of Ageless Derma Daily Moisturizer With SPF 35+? Enter to win using the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or 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 and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

4 Things My Morning Latte Taught Me About Life + A Creamy Coconut Dream Green Tea Latte Recipe with Bigelow Tea

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AmericasTea #CollectiveBias

As Spring Break rolls in, I'm beyond excited to be spending even more time lounging around the house, browsing the internet, and getting creative. Since I'm not having to stress about school right now, my creative juices are flowing and I can't wait to share some of the stuff I've been working on. But first, I'm sharing what's been keeping me caffeinated and ready to take on life's adventures.

My green tea latte is unlike any other you'll find. While coffee companies talk a big game with their creamy lattes, they have nothing on this dreamy blend of coconut cream and Bigelow Green Tea infused with just a splash of Vanilla and a pinch of Matcha Powder. So deliciously healthy!

While we all know Green Tea has so many benefits, did you know it can teach us life lessons as well? I'm not being a looney toon here, I'm serious. My morning latte has taught me a lot over the course of our time together. Don't believe me? Check out the top 4 things my morning latte has taught me...

4 Things My Morning Latte Taught Me About Life:

Be patient - You have to wait for the water to boil, the milk to froth, the tea to steep. Tea is a waiting game, so whether you realize it or not - making a cup o' tea is helping build patience.

Try it, you'll like it - Don't be afraid to try something you used to not like, it may be your favorite. I used to really, really hate tea... well, I thought I did anyways. Then my husband convinced me to try raspberry tea and from that point on, I was hooked. I've found a passion for green tea though, it's health benefits and ability to soothe can't be compared.

Go All 'Merican - While it's hilarious to joke about 'Merica and our silly ways, it's a good idea to boost our economy by buying American-made products whenever possible. I'm in love with Bigelow Tea because it's an All American company. Made by an American Family, available at an American Retailer (Walmart).

Bigelow's Tea Plantation in Charleston is actually America's largest working tea garden - hosting family events like weddings and even a variety of music festivals. What's better than tea on a plantation? Southern culture and American history at it's finest!

Let it Go - While Frozen may have taught us this as well, I'm pretty inspired by Bigelow Tea's giving nature. With almost 4 million bags of tea sent to our troops with Bigelow's Tea for Troops program, I know it's time to start letting go of more of what I have to help others. Find additional information about Tea for Troops.

Now that I've shared what my creamy coconut green tea latte has taught me about life, it's time to teach you my super easy and delicious recipe. Go ahead and make yourself a nametag, you're officially a barista now...

Ingredients:

Bigelow Green Tea
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla Flavored Syrup
Pinch of Matcha Powder (optional)
Whipped Cream (optional)

Begin my preparing tea as instructed on package (boiling water and steeping bag). While the water is boiling, you can begin making your coconut milk froth. Whip coconut milk over medium heat in a sauce pan.

Allow the tea bag to steep in hot water in the glass and continue to mix milk in the pan until foamy and bubbly.

Pour frothy coconut milk into the glass with the green tea. Add in just a tiny bit of vanilla flavored syrup and stir.

Top with whip and a pinch of matcha powder as a garnish and enjoy! 

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Have you seen all of these awesome Bigelow inspired creations?
Visit the board for more inspiration and stories about Bigelow Tea:

You're in Luck $100 CASH Giveaway!

It's officially March, can you believe it? I'm celebrating in a big way on the blog with a $100 giveaway! I started this blogging adventure a few years ago and never dreamed it would become what it is today... and I can only imagine what it will continue to grow into. With that said, I'm hosting this giveaway to thank my readers and to hopefully gain some new readers as well...

Are you feeling lucky? You have the chance to win a $100 gift card - right here! Use the giveaway tools form below to enter to win!

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or 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 and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Big Hero 6 + My Mini Baymax in a Jar Honey-Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. Regardless, the opinions stated and all the love for Big Hero 6, Baymax, and Honey-Lemon are all mine.
#BigHero6Release #CollectiveBias

I'm a big kid at heart, always have been; anytime a new cartoon comes out, I must see it! So when I heard Big Hero 6 was coming out on Blu-Ray, you better believe we took a little trip to Walmart and added this awesome movie to our collection! I also grabbed these adorable little stuffed Baymax and Honey-Lemon plushies off Walmart.com - there are too cute, I just couldn't pass 'em up!

After watching the movie packed full of action and scientific knowledge, it inspired me to take on a science experiment of sorts - in my kitchen! My Honey-Lemon Meringue pie is a perfect science and I just had to make a treat to match the movie and my favorite characters!

My "perfect science" actually turned out to be a science experiment when our power went out for about 1/2 an hour while I was mixing up the meringue recipe. I needed a high-tech gadget from Hiro to help me whip this up, we spent what felt like forever trying to use some real manpower taking turns mixing it since it takes a pretty lengthy amount of time to really puff this meringue with an electric mixer in the first place. Thank goodness I had hubs with me to help... Luckily, the power came back on shortly after we finished prepping this recipe, so we were able to enjoy our treats without worry, even if they required a little bit of extra work. This hopefully won't be a problem for you - it was rather unfortunate but the desserts are quiet the opposite!

This delicious meringue topping is hand mixed instead of machine whipped giving it a little bit more love and a lot more fluffy flavor, these little Baymax in a Jar Honey-Lemon Meringue Pies are the perfect way to celebrate the release of Big Hero 6! Plus, since they are gluten-free, even those with allergies can have one!

I actually made these over the course of a few days, making a batch of my GF sugar cookies a few days before the lemon meringue and whipped topping.You can find the sugar cookie recipe here (make as cupcakes as shown or roll into cookies, either way) and all you'll need to do is break up a cookie to form the crust of these delicious treats. The other two parts of the recipe can be whipped up the day you plan to serve these, just so they are nice and fresh!

Mini Baymax in a Jar

Honey-Lemon Meringue Pies

Honey-Lemon Filling Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups water

1 1/4 cups sugar

4 tablespoons corn starch

1 tablespoon (gluten-free) flour

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

4 large eggs, separated and beaten (egg yolks in the filling/ egg whites for the meringue)

2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons honey

Meringue Ingredients:

4 egg whites (room temperature)

1/4 scant teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

These two recipes are easiest to make in stages. You'll begin by separating 4 eggs, place the egg whites to the side and continue on making the Honey-Lemon Filling with the egg yolks.

Honey-Lemon Filling Recipe:
Combine water, sugar, cornstarch, and flour in a sauce pan, over medium/low heat - stirring with a whisk.

Once mixed together begin to add beaten egg yolks, lemon juice and lemon zest and bring to a boil. Be sure to stir the mixture consistently and allow it to boil for 10-15 minutes.

The mixture will really begin to look like a science experiment, that's when you know it's done! Remove from heat and stir in butter and honey.

Place this mixture to the side and get started on your meringue now.


Meringue Recipe:
Begin by prepping the kitchen for this recipe, set up a double-boiler (a metal or pyrex mixing bowl inside of a sauce pan half-full of water) and grab a pastry bag (or just a regular ol' ziploc and cut a whole in a corner).

Add Cream of Tartar to egg whites and mix well. Pour the mixture into the mixing bowl that's part of the double boiler.

Add sugar to the mixture and whisk consistently until the sugar no longer looks/feels grainy to the touch. It'll be a thin white mixture. It normally takes around 3-4 minutes, but could take longer depending on your double-boiler (the thickness of your bowl and the amount of water matter the most). Remove from heat.

Now's the part when I lost power and had to try to hand whip, but you should be totally fine - use a mixer on low for one minute, on a medium setting for another minute, and on high until the mixture is forming peaks that are high and don't fall flat.When it reaches the desired consistency, add in vanilla and whip just a little longer.

Assemble Your Baymax Army:
I found mini mason jars while shopping recently and fell in love, they come highly recommended in my book. If you don't have mini mason jars, shot glasses or little cups would work just as well!

Start out with a thick layer of sugar cookie crust, followed by a decent serving of Honey-Lemon filling and lastly fill the mason jar or cup to the brim with meringue topping. If you'd like you can bake these for approximately 15 minutes (but that's only to brown the meringue and isn't necessary, especially when you are without electricity). Draw a line and two circles on each serving and you officially have a little Baymax army!

Now you and everyone in your family can have a Baymax Honey-Lemon Meringue Pie while watching the adorable guy in Big Hero 6!   Enjoy!

{click here to print this recipe}

When your electric isn't being wonky, these are actually pretty simple to make and the flavors combine together to make a creamy honey-lemon treat you'll be craving for days to come. This is the perfect way to reward your big hero while watching the awesome new movie and be prepared to fall in love with Baymax more and more every time you watch this flick!

Some super awesome news, every purchase of the Big Hero 6 Blu-Ray/DVD Set  (which also includes a Gift With Purchase) includes a digital movie on Vudu while supplies last! All you have to do is scan your receipt using Savings Catcher on the Walmart app on your phone! Then look for a message on your phone or in your email,  Big Hero 6 is available to watch wherever you are with whatever device you fancy!

So now that I shared how we celebrated the release of Big Hero 6 on DVD/Blu-Ray, I'd love to hear what your plans are to watch the movie at your place? Will you be mixing up this recipe or another super fun Big Hero 6 inspired recipe?

Enter to win a Chance to Hang out with Robert Downey Jr. at the Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron

Listen up, y'all! Robert Downey Jr. is offering fans the chance to win the best night of their life culminating at the World Premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, all to support a great cause! What could be better? 

Check out this video, Robert Downey Jr. reveals that anyone has the chance to win a flyaway trip with a friend to Los Angeles to experience a day in the life of Tony Stark. 

By going to Omaze.com and donating just $10 to benefit Julia’s House, a children’s hospice center dedicated to helping improve the lives of children diagnosed with terminal illness, you could win a chance to live out your superhero dreams with RDJ in LA. 

What will your dream day look like? You’ll kick things off with breakfast at the iconic Randy’s Donuts before launching into an action-packed day which will include a helicopter ride over the Hollywood sign, indoor skydiving, and a custom gown or tux fitting before meeting Robert Downey Jr. himself for an epic motorcade arrival at the World Premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. And yes, there will be caviar and champagne! No worries about travel expenses either - Flights, 4-star hotel, and transportation are all included.

Did I mention you’ll be one of the first people on this planet to see the newest release from Marvel’s hit franchise? Yeah, that’s happening. But the opportunity to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience won’t last forever, be sure to enter to win!

Don't miss a thing, follow THE AVENGERS on Facebook |  Twitter. 

Even if you don't win the big contest, keep in mind - Marvel's AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON will hit theaters everywhere on May 1st!

Spring Cleaning - 14 Things You Should Throw Away or Replace in Your Home!

Spring is almost here, which means the time change is coming up as well, and with that Spring Cleaning normally happens across the nation.  While my home cleaning projects are all still a work in process, I want to share a list of 14 things you probably have in your home and should think about throwing away (or replacing) while getting down and dirty with your mess!

1. Old Towels - This may be obvious, but your towels need to be replaced when they no longer are soft and absorbent or when they are stinky! I think a good time span on towel life is probably 2-3 years (in circulation and laundered regularly) at the most, but that's just my personal preference.

2. Medicine - Go through all your old medicine, I know we all have a stash of allergy pills, pain relievers, etc. Check each and every bottle and packet of meds to make sure that none are past the expiration date!

3. Pillows - This is another obvious one to replace, but some people hold on to their pillows far to long *ahem, my husband*. Replacing your pillow is important for several reasons, mainly because they gather dust and can irritate your allergies and make you sick without you even realizing it. I also think it's a good idea to replace decorative pillows every few years, for new style reasons and so they don't spread allergens as well!

4. Old Clothes - I may or may not have a stack of clothing that I plan to do something with... Something like oh I'll tie-dye that stained shirt or I'll really scrub at that stain on my white dress, I'm sure I'm not the only one guilty of this horrible habit. I also am pretty guilty to holding on to "chubby" or "skinny" favorite articles of clothing, shorts that were a size medium now fit me so that benefited me greatly this time around... But I'll be ridding my closet of all the clothes that are now too large! If your items aren't too stained or worn in, be sure to consider donating them to the Salvation Army or a local thrift shop!

5. Mail - In my home, we stock pile mail. It's not something we are proud of... but after it's read, it gets piled up until we decide to go through it again. What's that I hear? You do the same thing in your home? Well, today is the day to go through the mail pile and get rid of everything that has no importance! Expired coupons, out of date business correspondence, etc - it can all go!

 

6. Expired Make Up - I'm so incredibly guilty of hoarding stock piles of make up, it's a bit ridiculous actually. So this year I've decided to get rid of everything that I should have let go of a long time ago. I'm not just saying it's outdated - It actually expires, so note the date when you buy a product to make sure you aren't applying bad make up!

 

7. Outdated electronics - I'm pretty notorious for breaking phone screens, which means I have several phones laying around the house in a shattered, dead state. I'm going to donate or look into selling these out of date and damaged electronics, they take up too much space and have no value to me, time for someone else to use them!

8. Take Out Sauces/Menus - When you order Chinese from a place nearby my house, they always deliver the food with another menu and about a million sauce packets. We also have packets from late night runs to Taco Bell, munchie sessions at Chik-Fil-a, and more. While these sauce packets come in handy at times, they aren't saving any space in my fridge and they have to go as well as their take-out menu counterparts!

9. Neglected Projects - You may be like me, a creative soul with a passion for seeing things not always as they are but for what they could be... and while that's a beautiful habit to have, it also means that you probably have about a million and one projects currently going on. I know you really want to learn to cross-stitch but that complex pattern you picked up on clearance probably won't be the best way to learn. It's time to let go of the half-way done or "there's no hope" projects. I have a few canvases that I just need to scrap or use as a practice painting surface... no harm in admitting you made a mistake, just don't let that mistake eat up your creative space!

10. Tupperware - While Tupperware may seem like it lasts forever, containers with recycle codes 3 or 7 may contain BPA! What's BPA? It's a hormone-disrupting chemical that leaches into food as containers age or get heated in the microwave or dishwasher. Don't allow your family to get poisioned by your leftovers, check each piece of tupperware and replace it with a new BPA-free option or glass!

11. Old Magazines - I used to be a freebie junkie, which some how allowed me to continually receive free subscriptions to magazines that seem to last a lifetime. I'm not complaining about getting free magazines but we have millions, it seems. We donated what felt like hundreds to our church last year but it looks like it's time to look into donating some again. If your church or your kids school has no use for your magazine collection, look into donating them to your local library or a waiting room that you frequent.

12. Dish Sponge - Your dish sponge should actually be replaced about once a month, so go ahead and grab a big ol' pack of sponges the next time you hit Target. If your sponge still seems able bodied after a month, keep it to use while cleaning the tub or to help with a craft project, but make sure it's clean!!

13. Junk Drawer Oddities - I grew up in a house with a junk drawer full of treasures, while it's nice to keep all the odds and ends in a "junk drawer" it's also a good idea to make sure your not hoarding a collection of ridiculous items in your junk drawer. Go through and make sure that everything in this drawer serves a purpose of some sort, if it doesn't then I suggest you donate or toss it!

14. Anything else weighing you down - Admit it, you have that one collection of items that just isn't necessary! For me, this year, it has been boxes...Yep, cardboard boxes in case I plan on shipping something - while it's been useful, I'm saying goodbye to these boxes TODAY! There's no need to collect something I can find pretty much anywhere!


I'd love to hear what Spring Cleaning tips and tricks do you have to share? I'm always looking for new and inventive ways to make my house look organized!