Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

Everyone loves St. Patty's day, right? A holiday that includes green beer for adults and silly antics for the kids, with maybe a few pinches involved for those that forget to wear green!

Today I'm sharing a super cute craft I put together last-minute to decorate the house a bit for this Irish holiday. I made this little project using a handful of pennies, a piece of stock paper, school glue, and a green marker - it's that easy! This super simple project would be a lot of fun to work on with the kiddos, something adorable to put together quickly while you celebrate the holiday!

DIY Lucky Penny Rainbow
for St Patty's Day

What you'll need:
A large handful of pennies (some new, some tarnished)
Paper
Glue
Green marker

You'll begin this project by laying out the pennies the way you plan to glue them down. I made a small half circle with the bright fresh new pennies, then made another half circle with the tarnished pennies, and another with the new pennies... You could continue on with this pattern or use less. This lucky penny rainbow looks cool big or small.

After you lay the pennies out, begin to glue them down. Once the pennies have dried in place, you'll want to draw clouds at the end of the rainbow! I think if I made this again I might even draw a little black pot... you know, a pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow!

I decided to write lucky inside my penny rainbow, you could find a favorite Irish blessing or a friendly st. patty's day greeting, so many fun ways to personalize this project!

After your finished, place your new St. Patty's decor out for the world to see!

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?
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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?