Share Funshine + Make DIY Designer Dog Shirt Collars

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

This summer I've been browsing thrift stores like crazy, I'm looking for new basic pieces to add to my wardrobe since I'm in a smaller size (YAY!) and I'm also looking for fun DIY projects.

I absolutely love turning something old into something new; whether it's a restored piece of furniture or a funky, inventive way to upcycle fabric, I can always come up with some crazy idea to make these thrifty finds into treasures!

So the other day when we were browsing one of my favorite places to shop second hand, we casually were walking by the children's section and I spotted some of the cutest collared shirts.We don't have any little one's (yet), but I brilliantly came up with the an idea that involved my furry children.

I wasn't going to subject them to wearing children's clothes, putting a collared button up shirt on my dog would be kind of funny but I don't think they would like that much. So I decided to spice up their current collars with a much more fun, fashionable spin on a collar.

I call my creation DIY Designer Dog Shirt Collars, my little pooches seem to love their new cotton collars and they look absolutely adorable (and a little hilarious) on them!

Right after we made these cute new collars we had some friends come over (to share our delicious snack with) and we all agreed that these look like they were made for my dogs.

Well, they were made for my dogs, but they just fit them so well it looks as though they should have always worn shirt collars instead of "dog collars". I suppose you could say my dogs and I have elevated the idea of a collar, at least until it's time to put their harnesses on to go for a walk. 

If you want to elevate your dog's sense of fashion, it's super easy to make one of these cute new collars! Follow the directions below and if you need any help, feel free to ask me via social media or email!

Step 1: Choose shirts that will fit your dog's neck and personality. It was easy to pick out a couple of shirts with collars for my pooches and I bought them for 50 cents a piece. I'm sure if you hit your local thrift store you'll be able to find some collared shirts that will fit your little fuzzy friends as well.

I suggest measuring your dogs neck before you go (or taking their current collar with you), so you know approximately what size shirt you should be looking for. You'll also want to look for collared shirts that have a button actually on the collar, this will actually be the clasp for your dogs collar!

Step 2: Wash all of the clothes you bought, just because a little clean laundry never hurt anyone. Plus, you are ensuring your dogs new collar is super clean and fresh! During this time, I highly suggest you all allow yourself, and your dogs, some delicious treats.

///Side note: We stopped at Walmart for a few things after we hit the thrift store and I saw a whole bunch of delicious candy and my dogs favorite treat, Pedigree Dentastix® Original.

That's when the decision was made, the rest of the day was all about crafting and treating the dogs and ourselves to all of our favorite things!

After all it's rained here almost every day in July, we all deserved a fun day and decided we would make our own "Funshine"!

I bought all my favorite candies: Starburst® Minis Unwrapped, Life Savers® Hard Candy, Skittles®, and M&M's® Peanut and we were on our way home to start crafting! Before you start crafting again, you should definitely enter to win the Share a Little Funshine Sweeps:

Share a Little Funshine Sweepstakes

///

Step 3. After your the collared shirts are clean, you'll want to grab a pair of scissors and cut along the seam of the collar. Make sure to trim any remaining threads and then it's time to try your dog's new collar out for the first time.

Step 4. If you are anything like me, you'll want to share your new creation with the world and if your dogs are anything like mine they won't let you take a picture easily.

I don't have the most perfectly behaved dogs in the world, it's true. They get a bit wild and are like toddlers when I try to take pictures of them, they literally can't sit still.

I've learned to snag photos to share, I need a little help from Pedigree Dentastix® Original and Pedigree Dentastix® Beef Flavor. All I have to do is show them that they'll get a Pedigree Dentastix® right after they pose and they are all set and ready to model!

Who knew it was so  I easy to convince "models" to pose properly?!

If you decide to make one of these adorable collars for your pooch, you must show me photo evidence! I'd love to hear how you plan on sharing "funshine" through out the summer?  I'd love to hear if you have any creative activities planned with your kids, dogs, husband this summer? Tell me all about it in the comments below! If you want to treat your dog and yourself, click here to save on M&M's®, SNICKERS® Ice Cream Bars, Dr Pepper® Cherry, Skittles®, Pedigree Dentastix®, and more!  Download the Blippar app from your Apple or Android store to scan your package and receive exclusive content.

Store & Share Precious Memories with RealTimes {+$300 Target GC GIVEAWAY}

This is a Fashionista Event and a promotional item was provided to me. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic

So I'll admit it, I'm that person.

I'm the gal that always brings her camera with her everywhere. Family vacations with all my in-laws, random road trips with friends, short little walks to the beach, on the patio with my pups; no matter where I am, I love being able to capture the moment. This means I have hundreds of awesome photos and by hundreds, I mean more like hundreds of thousands.

While I love having the ability to look back on all of these memories, I really don't have the time to sort through each and every one of the photos, organize them by location and date, and share only the photos I like, that's where RealTimes comes into the picture. Now I never have to worry about losing a favorite photo, they are all stored on the cloud and accessible anywhere and easy to share!

RealTimes is an awesome new service (and app) that offers cloud based storage for all of the photos I take, as well as the ability to make all of my photos into personalized photo montages!

Instead of taking the time to choose the best photos and make them into a video yourself, RealTimes chooses the best of the best for you and puts them all together in a pretty amazing video. I know what you're thinking, what if RealTimes grabs that picture your hubby snagged of you while you were stuffing your face with a piece of cake at your little one's party? Luckily, you don't have to include every single photo they choose for you. It's easy to pick and choose the images it uses, change the music playing in the background, as well as customize the videos in a few other fun ways, all just by clicking a few buttons.

I know I'm not the only one that's a fan of being behind the camera and taking TONS of photos, I'm well aware of the fact that several of my mommy friends are known as paparazzi in their homes. If you are guilty of using your camera a little too often, you need to check out RealTimes. Now, at your fingertips, you have the ability to store 2GB FREE (+ 5 GB more of free storage, if you choose to auto-upload)!

Since I take a lot of pictures, I'm excited about the 7GB of storage that I received for free, but I know I'll eat up that space quickly over the years. If you are on my level and don't think that's enough storage for the long run but you still want a deal, you can always subscribe to the Premium RealTimes subscription plan with the code "COUPONSCOM15"! You'll receive 30 days FREE (normally $4.99/month or $49.99/year). This discount is only available through August 30th though, so act quickly! Still looking for a deal? Check for RealTimes coupons on Coupons.com.

Now that you know where you'll be saving your pictures and turning them into awesome movies, I have even more to share with you today! RealTimes, a bunch of my blogger friends, and I have a little surprise for you! We are celebrating one lucky reader and giving away a $300 Target Gift Card!

If you want to win, simply enter with the giveaway form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Still Blonde after all these Years, Modly Chic, and Fashionista Events bloggers are not responsible if prize is not delivered.  We will make every attempt to help you claim your prize.

Some Days Just Call For a Tutu & Heels...

Thanks to Shabby Apple for providing me with an adorable tulle skirt.

Some days just call for a tutu and a pair of heels, today is one of those days. It's not a special occasion, I have no where to be, but today definitely felt like a tutu-wearing type of day. Running around my office, working on upcoming projects, and wearing this skirt has made for a pretty sweet day - it's nice to feel pretty and a bit snazzy while going about an ordinary work day.

As you can tell, I'm in love with my new tulle skirt; paired with all different types of shirts and a wide variety of shoes, I can wear this little number all different kinds of ways! This time around I opted to wear my beautiful violet purple tutu with a frilly black shirt I purchased at a thrift store and a pair of Nina heels that I've had for many, many moons.

Next time I can picture myself rocking it with my kitten eye sunglasses and a cropped leather jacket and boots of some sort or maybe something simple like a cardigan and ballet flats... either way, I can't wait to rock this tulle skirt over and over again. If you're wondering where I snagged this beautiful skirt, you'll need to check out Shabby Apple! I love everything they carry, a little bit of everything from beautiful accessories to perfectly pretty tutus, they've got it all. Plus, these gorgeous skirts come in a huge variety of colors and lengths, so I'm sure you'll be able to find the perfect tulle skirt (and more) to add to your wardrobe!

Do you ever have days that just call for something ridiculously girly for no particular reason? Where would you wear a tutu?

Funk Up Your House with Quirky Functional Home Decor

I'm all for decorating a house with all kinds of adorable, eclectic goodies but I also know hectic it can begin to look if you don't know how to organize your decor appropriately. I am currently trying to organize all of our collections and lusting over all of these super quirky DIY projects and products and just have to share them with you. From creative uses for a trunk to a stool made of old magazines, there's something just quirky enough for everyone and the storage these pieces offer is just what every home needs!

Which project will you take on first? I think I want to give hubs a to-do list that includes each of these projects and then some!

Check out Funk Up Your House with Quirky Functional Home Decor
by Lauren Paints at Mode

Indulge Your Cheesecake Instincts with Fiber One Cheesecake Bars

I'm a bit of a foodie with a true love for anything remotely resembling dessert. Lately I've been craving one of my favorite desserts though; I want the perfect slice of cheesecake! I'm obsessed with the rich, creamy texture, the buttery graham cracker crumb crust, and the most delicious flavors. 

The thing is, I've lost a lot of weight recently and I'm really trying to live a healthier lifestyle which means I tend to steer clear of desserts in general, especially cheesecake. This is tough, but worth it! I was living a in cheesecake-less world for the last few months, until I found Fiber One Cheesecake Bars in Salted Caramel and Strawberry! Now I can indulge in cheesecake daily, if I please and not worry about gaining each time I take a bite.

These delicious little treats are the ultimate after dinner "dessert"; offering the perfect creamy texture, a moist and flavorful graham cracker crust, and a swirl of caramel (or strawberry) that really adds that extra little touch and really boosts the flavor all for just 150 calories!

I love serving these Fiber One cheesecake desserts to company with a drizzle of chocolate over the top and a couple of strawberries for decoration! Think restaurant quality dessert, without any hassle or guilt - what more could a cheesecake-loving-foodie ask for?

Are you ready to follow your cheesecake instincts? Enter to win $15 CASH so Fiber One and I can treat you to a couple of boxes of cheesecake bars!

Entry-Form

Not only do you have the opportunity to win some cash, you can save some $$ as well. Check out all the awesome coupons and exclusive savings only at Publix!

So what are you waiting for? Head to Publix and grab a box or two of Fiber One Cheesecake bars, because now you can have your cheesecake, eat it, and save money too!

Sharing GOOD News & My Love for HP Instant Ink!

Today's discussion is brought to you by HP Instant Ink and Collectively.

It's really happening...

Today, I'm so excited!

...Wait, you are probably wondering what's happening?

I've got some good news!

You know how I occasionally create a printable here and there and I'll share them for free from time to time? Well, I'm excited to announce I'm going to be doing that a lot more often, as well as selling some of my printables over on etsy (plus I'll be selling some of my paintings again).

I've been trying to launch my printable business since earlier this year but life gets busy and I wanted to make sure I had the perfect equipment to make beautiful prints! I'm so excited about my new printer, it makes my art work look even more amazing! While I love my printer, I'm even more excited about the fact that I signed up for HP Instant Ink so that I can print my work over and over again and never worry about running out of ink!

You've never heard of HP Instant Ink? I've got to share my secret so that you can print and never run out of ink! HP Instant Ink is an innovative ink replacement service designed to save consumers up to 50 percent on ink! Ink is delivered to your door before you need it, and HP Instant Ink Plans start at $2.99, with recycling included as well. Signing up online and installing the ink cartridge is all you have to do to make sure you'll never run out!

Worried about which printer to invest in so that you can be sure you can print all you want with HP Instant Ink? Be sure to invest in a HP OfficeJet Pro, HP Envy, or check out the list here for more eligible printers!

I've been designing, printing, and buying frames like crazy this week, which means I'm going through a pretty nice amount of ink. I noticed after a TON of printing yesterday that my ink was running low! I'm so happy I had the extra ink thanks to Instant Ink, I was able to simply install my HP Instant Ink cartridges and my prints are beautiful and bright again! Now I don't even need to pay attention to how much ink I have because when I start running low again, I'll receive another cartridge in the mail; with no action of my own required after set up!

Now that I've shared how I make sure that I never run out of ink, I'd love to hear what your favorite quote is for a printable in your home? I'm going to be sharing a bunch of freebies all through out the summer, so give me a fun, thoughtful, or silly quote and you may be able to snag a pretty piece of art for free! Before you share your favorite quote, be sure to download one of my favorite quote FREE printables from the list below (and sign up for HP Instant Ink):

Want more freebies other than the printables I've shared today? Click here to claim 3 months of FREE ink, when you purchase an eligible printer and sign up online for HP Instant Ink! What are you waiting for? Save big and print as much as you want and #NeverRunOut!

Treat Yourself: Triple Chocolate & Caramel Ice Cream Sandwich with Blue Bunny

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

Eating delicious triple chocolate cookies is something I've been dreaming of since I began strictly dieting this summer and while I'm still trying to watch my figure, I also deserve to treat myself every once in a while so I made these AMAZING triple chocolate ice cream sandwiches with some of my favorite Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Bunny Tracks!

With a creamy, cold peanut butter and fudge infused ice cream inside of two delicious, soft, triple chocolate cookies, all stuck together with a gooey, sloppy layer of caramel; this recipe is the answer to a deprived foodie's sweet tooth cravings and it's sinfully delicious!

Since I've been dieting, my hubby has been kind enough not to eat too much chocolate in front of me, which has been nice; but I know he's missing it as well! That's why I decided to make these delicious sandwiches gluten-free (he has a wheat allergy). The only bad part about making these gluten free is that my hubby will likely consume all of these beautiful desserts before I even manage to get my hands on another one. If you have someone in your family that suffers from a gluten (or wheat) allergy, these desserts are the perfect way to treat them to a food they probably miss dearly!

Now I know what you are probably thinking, something this delicious must be difficult to make... But you'd be surprised how easy these sweet treats are to make! You'll want to turn on some music and get the electric mixer out because this recipe is about to rock your world!

Just a little tip, I typically make my batch of cookies the same day I plan to serve these beauties, so that the cookies are nice and fresh!

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour     
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups dark chocolate chips
2 tbsp Hazelnut Spread
Caramel Topping

Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks Ice Cream

Begin prepping this recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Next you'll want to combine the butter, sugar, eggs, hazelnut spread, and vanilla and mix with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.

Now add in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips, until it's all blended well.

Bake for 15 minutes in the oven, or just until set. Allow these delicious chocolate beauties to remain on the cookie sheets for around 20 minutes or until cool to the touch.

Once the cookies are cool, add a scoop of Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks Ice Cream on to the bottom of one cookie, add a swirl or two of caramel, and place another cookie on top.

Enjoy!

Now that I've shared one of the most delicious recipes of the summer, I'd love to hear your favorite way to indulge your cravings? Want to sample Blue Bunny Ice Cream before you buy it? Check out this list of all the Walmart locations that will be giving out FREE ice cream samples July 16-19!

Summer Adventures + Tasty Outshine Bars

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

The days I've spent paddling around the water this summer have to be some of my favorite days, owning a kayak has been a real joy. Although kayaking is a ton of fun, it's a lot of work, especially when we go out for hours and hours at a time.

I'm definitely not complaining. Being able to travel to "islands" and check out what uninhabited beaches look like is really, really cool. But I must say, this July heat is really, really hot, that's why after a long day out on that little boat of ours I love to treat myself to something sweet, cold, and full of delicious fruits & veggies: Outshine Bars!

Since these tasty treats come in so many different varieties, it's always a difficult choice deciding which one I'm going to treat myself with! I'm in love with the fact that Outshine only uses ingredients that taste as good as they make you feel, a refreshing treat from the inside out.

When I'm craving something creamy I grab the Outshine Simply Yogurt Bars in Strawberry, they offer the perfect texture and sweetness to please my sweet tooth and satisfy my creamy cravings! I'm in love with the texture and the strong strawberry flavor is so indulgent, I'm in love!

When I'm wanting something hydrating I grab the Outshine Coconut Water Bars, these bars pack a punch of coconut water and the taste is incredible! The little chunks of pineapple add the perfect amount of kick and make this Outshine Bar a favorite in my home!

Whenever I want something sweet and tangy I grab the Outshine Fruit Bars, they come in so many different fruit flavors and I'm totally in love with all of them.

When I'm needing an extra serving of veggies I opt for the Outshine Fruit and Veggie Bars, they offer a fruit & veggie infused kick of goodness without sacrificing taste!

No matter which delicious Outshine Bar I choose, I'm bound to have a smile on my face! What more could a girl ask for than a delicious snack bar and a day spent out on the ocean? Check out all the other delicious ways you can enjoy Outshine Bars here and learn more about how they give back to the community! Want to give Outshine Bars a try for yourself? You can grab a pack at Walmart today!

Since Outshine is all about feel-good snacking, they want everyone to enjoy delicious fruits & veggies. That's why they're helping provide 1 pound of produce to local food banks (and sharing cool savings) when you take their super fun snacking quiz! Do your part to help contribute and you'll receive $1 off coupon! Don't forget to take the snacking quiz now through July 31st here!