Patio Mood Board

Today I am sharing with you my patio mood board. These are items I would love to decorate our new patio with! Okay, speaking bluntly, I wouldn't be able to actually decorate with half of these, because well, I'm cheap! haha. BUT I like to look at this for inspiration. Perhaps I can get creative and DIY some of these bad boys, wouldn't that be awesome. Alrighty here it is....

Patio Mood Board - June 2013

Now i'll break down the items for you, and if you'd like to look at them further or even purchase them, I will provide the link as well.

1. Smith & Hawken Metal Cage Hanging Lights from Target ($23.00)

2. Red Moroccan Candle Holder Lanters from Amazon (Set of 3 for $30.00)

3. Outdoor 2-Piece Square Toss Pillow Set from Target ($48.00)

4. ONE OF MY FAVORITES!! Actually a How to from Home Depot - Red Outdoor Serving Cart (DIY)

5. White Slat Patio Rocking Chairs from Home Depot (On sale for 60.00)

6. Coca Cola Sign from Lil Blue Boo (DIY)

7. Dark Grey/Beige Indoor/Outdoor Rug from Overstock ($218.00)

8. Outdoor Granite Fire Pit from Target ($120.00)

9. Outdoor Metal Yellow Wall Accent from Etsy (AquaExpressions) for ($30.00)

10. Safavieh Paradise Courtyard Light Blue Stool from Overstock ($110.00 Yeah right!)

11. Red Patio Side Table from Z Patio Furniture ($58.00)

I am NOT affiliated with any of these items or websites, just simply like the item, and want to look back at this board for inspiration when it comes to purchases/making items for our patio :)

Here is a picture of our patio right now. We are still waiting to put in the grass, once that is done, we will start adding decor/patio furniture to this space. To see how we made this paver patio, and our first installment of our Front Yard Makeover click HERE.

I hope you like this mood board. Do you have any mood boards? I love looking at them, if you have one, put the link in the comments so I can come check it out!

Have a wonderful day,

This post is linked to these lovely linky parties HERE!

Thrifty Thursday: Dollar Store Utensil Drawer Organization!

Happy Thursday! Guys, I'm about to write the world's shortest blog post. I finally decided to organize my utensil drawer in my kitchen. That thing was a disaster. Could never find what I needed, and stabbed myself looking.

I've had my eye out for a drawer organizer, but seriously, those things can get expensive! Then I remembered I had some leftover packs of white baskets from the dollar store! Lightbulb! These baskets are amazing for so many things, I suggest picking them up whenever you find yourself at the good ol' Dolla Holla.They ended up fitting perfectly in the drawer, and now I'm all organized. Let's hope it will stay this way (*hint hint* dear!).

Hope you all have an AMAZING weekend, and I will talk to you again on Monday!

Check out the linky parties we link to here.

WWEW: Fun 4th of July Treats!

Welcome to What We Eat Wednesday! Today I will be sharing a fun 4th of July treats recipe. 

It's fun, easy, and best of all, delicious. This is a great treat to bring to any 4th of July party. Here is what you'll need.

1. Vanilla Almond Bark

2. Strawberries

3. Marshmallows

4. Red and Blue Sprinkles

5. New York-(white and blue) Mint Pieces

6. Lollipop Sticks

7. White Streamers

8. Green Styrofoam blocks

9. Small container to put your treats in.

What you'll want to do is spread out a piece of tin foil or wax paper on a cookie sheet. Next melt the Almond Bark (according to directions). Get out two small bowls and pour your red sprinkles in one and blue in the other.

For the marshmallows dip one side in the chocolate and then in the sprinkles and the same for the opposite side.

For the Strawberries -- Use a spoon to spread out the melted chocolate over 1/2-2/3 of your strawberry. Dip the bottom 1/3 into the blue sprinkles.

Set marshmallows and strawberries onto a piece of tin foil to harden.

Once your chocolate has dried you can insert your lollipop sticks into them. Next cut your Styrofoam to fit into your container and wrap your white streamer around it (covering completely). Stick your treats into the styrofoam and then cover with the blue and white New York mint candies.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. If you enjoyed this fun recipe don't forget to "Join", "like" and "follow" us so you can stay up to date on all our latest happenings. If you're a new follower be sure to leave a comment so we can return the love! :)

Enjoy your day,

This post has been linked to these LOVELY linky parties HERE!

Our New Ikea Ektorp Sectional

Hey everyone! I'm so excited to share today's post! After several years of living with an uncomfortable set of couches, we finally caved and bought a new sofa. We ended up deciding on the 2x2 Ektorp Sectional from Ikea.

Before buying our new couch, we had to get rid of the old ones. I placed an ad on Craig's List around noon last Friday and those babies were gone by 7pm. I think it may have been because they were priced well, and they still looked amazing though they never felt amazing. Seriously, forget napping on the couch... you'd slide right off. Anyway, we knew we wanted to replace it with something comfortable to nap and snuggle on, that looked nice, and didn't break the bank. Welcome, the Ektorp Sectional.

We were a little nervous about the purchase because we were scared we would put it together incorrectly. I mean, there is always that possibility with Ikea furniture, but it seemed even more so with this large piece. It ended up being a breeze to assemble. It took us about an hour, and we didn't hit any problems. We decided to film the process, and then time lapse it for your enjoyment.

As for how we like it, well, we don't. We LOVE it! Obviously, we haven't had it very long and we're interested to see how well this 1,000 dollar sectional holds up. We will definitely keep you updated! Until then, enjoy the video!

Have a great Tuesday,

Check out the parties we link to HERE!

FREE Social Media Icons

Good morning everyone! Over the weekend I had some extra time and wanted to make a FREEBIE for you all. I decided to make some Social Media Icons. I only chose the basic ones that most bloggers use. We'd love to know if you decide to use these on your blog or other website! (Let us know in the comments section-also because I made these, if used, please give credit to Orchard Girls. They are for personal use only not for sale purposes.) 
 There are a few different color options, if there is a different color you are wanting to use, please email us or comment below and i'll see what I can do for you! :)

Bunting

Black

Blue

Gray

Pink

Green

Purple

Yellow

Okay, in order to get these icons on your blog there are a few simple steps that you need to follow:

1. Click here to go to our Photobucket (Or click above if you already know which one you'd like)

2. Click on the color icons that you'd like to have and copy the "Direct" link.

3. Go to Image-Maps  website and enter in the "direct link" from the previous step in the "From a URL" spot. Then click "Start mapping your image"

4. Next you will need to hit "rectangle" and enter in your own personal URL for each social media.

      example: https://www.facebook.com/OrchardGirls (for facebook)

5. Once you've entered in each of your links and unchecked the "Show Text Links" click "GET YOUR CODE"

6. Next on the top of your screen click on the "HTML" tab. Copy your code and paste it into an HTML widget on your blogger layout screen.

That's it! :) I know these type of posts can sometimes be confusing, so feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments section below. Let me know what you guys think!

Check out our other Freebies HERE!

Have a great day,

This post is linked up to these lovely linky parties here!

Fix it Up Friday: Entryway Reveal!

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week! Today, I'm going to share my entryway with you guys. We have been living with a pretty drab and empty entryway for quite a while now.

I've been looking for something to fill the space, but everything seemed so awkward! Finally, I've pieced everything together, and have come up with an inviting area that I absolutely love.

It isn't completely done, as we are still going to paint this room, as well as all of the trim in the house. Also, we need to paint our door but are waiting until the exterior gets painted. Here is another before shot:

And an after:

Here is a breakdown of what I used to warm up this space:
-Threshold bookcase from Target (which Kayla helped me put together!)
-lamp from TJMaxx
-runner from Costco
-picture/frame, mirror, small bowl, and tin from thrifting
-various knick knacks stolen from around the house
-my shell and rock collection in my memory jars

I am so happy with this space! I hope you guys like it as much as I do. Now when I come home, I will be greeted by this and smile. It's amazing how much small areas like this make such a difference in your home.

I hope you all have a great weekend! Thank you for checking out our blog and for supporting us. We are completely blessed.

Blessings to you and yours,

Check out the linky parties we link to here.

Thrifty Thursday: FREE Paint Chip Artwork-DIY

Good Morning! I just have a quick post today, but a good one, and best of all a THRIFTY one! 

Paint Chip Artwork

FREE DIY Project!

 It was inspired by a frame I got at Goodwill. I stained it to a darker wood color and was looking for something to put in it, something more than just a picture, but something that didn’t cost money. So I did what any other person would do, turned to pinterest, of course! Haha. I found a project, then put a little twist on it. For this project all you need is a printed picture (black and white work best). I chose one from my wedding day! Here is a list of other items you’ll need.

1. Frame

2. Printed Picture (preferably black and white)

3. Various color themed paint chips

4. Shaped hole puncher (I chose a heart one that I got from Michael’s for 50% off)

Next comes the most tedious part, hole punching your paint chips. Once you do that, arrange your hole punched paint chips in the color order you’d like to use them and lay them out on your picture, in whatever pattern you’d like. Use a little bit of glue (I used Clear Gel Tacky Glue) and stick them on your picture. Here is how mine turned out! I love it, I hope you do to.

This is a simple DIY project that took hardly any time, but adds a fun twist to just a plain picture in a frame. Let me know what you think, and lets us know if you're going to give it a try. I hope you have a fabulous day! 

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement,

Check out these lovely linky parties this post is linked to HERE!

WWEW: Three Cheese Pasta Bake

Welcome to What We Eat Wednesday! Today I will be posting about a super yummy pasta bake that is absolutely smothered in cheese-- 3 different kinds, to be exact!

I found this recipe a long time ago via pinterest. I definitely used the original recipe for the inspiration, and most of the ingredients. Here is the link. I did change a few things to make it easier and more filling/satisfying to my taste buds.

Here are the ingredients:
-16 ounce package of ziti pasta noodles, cooked al dente and drained
-2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into inch size pieces
-2 10 ounce bottles of alfredo sauce
-8 ounces sour cream
-15 ounces ricotta cheese
-2 eggs, beaten
-1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
-1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
-1 clove garlic, minced
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp pepper

And here is what you do:
1. Cook your noodles to al dente, drain and set aside. Cook your chicken and cut into 1 inch pieces. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl (or the 9x13" dish you are baking in) mix all of your other ingredients together, reserving 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Add your noodles and chicken. Mix well.
3. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella cheese on top. Add some more parmesan, if you'd like (I always do!)
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until bubbly and top is slightly golden
5. Enjoy with a nice big salad!

I hope you give this recipe a try. It is definitely a rich meal, better to be eaten on rare occasion than too often. Let us know what you think!

Hope you're having an amazing week!

Check out the linky parties we link to here!

Front Yard Makeover: Part 1

Good Morning blog world! Today I wanted to share with you what Daniel and I have been up to in our front yard. We are in the midst of a front yard makeover. I decided to take you along on this journey, as it is going to be a long process. First I will show you a picture of what our front yard looked like before we started working on it.

As you can see, we don't have too much of a front yard. We started with an old sidewalk put in several years ago. A big dirt patch where the previous renters had a hot tub. And not much of a patio at all. Here are our plans for just the yard - - use a rototiller over the whole yard, put in a large paver patio, and put down all new sod/grass, and purchase patio furniture. We also plan on painting our front doors and our house. Here is what we've completed so far...

1. Rototil Yard
2. Large Paver Patio

3. Lay down sod/grass

4. Patio Furniture

5. Paint Front Doors

6. Paint House

The first thing we had to do was rototil the yard and put down sand where the patio was going to be laid.

While we were waiting to get started this was a our make shift sidewalk. Before this, it was trips back and forth to the the car in my rain boots carrying a car seat with one arm and a different pair of shoes in the other. It was quite the site. Anyway, once we purchased all of the pavers and the sand was laid out we got started!

When laying a paver patio a couple things to remember:

(Okay, i'm obviously not an expert and this is our first project like

this so these are just some of the things we did - keep in mind we're not professionals! :))

1. Rototil down to fresh ground

2. Pack down the surface - each layer (dirt, gravel, sand)

3. Before laying pavers use a level to make sure the ground is level.

**tip: use pipes along the edges as a guide to flatten the surface**

4. Lay out your pavers and pound down with mallet.

5. Lay down edging pieces to ensure your pavers do not shift over time 

6. Pour special sand over entire patio that settles into the cracks and hardens.

 Okay, and here is the part where I admit that after we laid the entire patio down, we had to REDO it, because we didn't take the time to level it completely. OYE! Here is our COMPLETED patio! YAY!

I'm really excited to get the rest of the yard done! Next we need to get the new grass down. Then get our patio furniture and have a BBQ! I'll keep you guys updated on our progress, as we go!

Real quick here is a BEFORE/PROGRESS SHOT side by side!

Have a great day,

This post is linked up to these lovely linky parties HERE!

Things I've Been Loving- In the Kitchen

Hey everyone! Another weekend has gone by and I'm left here wondering where all of my time off went. Monday always comes faster than I want it to! I'm just going to be doing a quick post on a few things I've purchased recently and have really been enjoying! All of these things are still in stores, so I thought it might be fun to share, especially if you need any of these things!

First up, I've been loving this double sided dish drying mat I found at Bed, Bath and Beyond:

The reasons I love this mat are: 1. It is extra long and can hold all of those pots and pans. I used to only have a mat that went under the actual dish rack. It was always over flowing and getting my counter all wet. 2. The side with the mesh on top allows moisture to go underneath the dish. So, you can place a cup upside down and not worry about the moisture staying inside the cup.

Next are these dish towels from Ikea:

I bought a pack of 4 a while back, and have been really loving them! They were $3.99, so I don't worry about making them yucky or anything. They're easily replaceable. Also, they are super absorbent and cute! I recently stopped by Ikea again and picked up 2 more packs of these!

Last but not least is this adorable straw holder from JoAnne's:

I picked this up on a whim when it was on sale. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do! It looks cute on the counter, has an old time diner feel to it, and is super functional for holding straws. Looks like it is  on sale again! 

Alright, that's all I have for you today! Let us know if you like posts like this. Maybe we can do some monthly roundups with a similar feel.

I hope you all had a great weekend and that your week goes well!