Adding Dreaminess With My Wonderful Walls

We moved 53 weeks ago. That is one year plus one week of time. In a way, it seems like it was not that long ago but then again... it feels like we have been here forever. Funny how that works out. The house is an old charmer for sure. It has its own quirks, conveniences, and irritations. Mostly, the place feels like home. Then we get to the master bedroom...

You guys, this is horrible to admit on some level, but the master bedroom was completely ignored. Like, people may use this room... but I can't be certain as it is like... empty! Like I mentioned above, the house has quirks and conveniences, but it also has one massive inconvenience. The stairs twist in 2 spots, this makes taking basically anything up the stairs impossible. On moving day, we realized that getting our mattress up the stairs and twisted to go around the corners was quite a feat. Nothing else was going to go up there... my bedroom furniture was destined to sit in the shed.

Life moves fast... so fast. Finally, one cold winter day I walked in that room and said "Are we college kids, forced to sleep on the floor?! Why have we never dealt with this bedroom situation!?"

The project began, some artwork was brought in, a small dresser was purchased. A bed in a box type of contraption was purchased and brought in. It was starting to look like an actual bedroom. But, it really lacked something.

This is where My Wonderful Walls comes into my story.

I didn't want to do anything permanent to the room, as I am trying to convince my family that my daughter should trade rooms with my husband and I. But, I really wanted to add something to the room while we are using it. My Wonderful Walls happens to offer an impressive selection of decals for your walls that are perfect for what I wanted to do.

The hardest part about adding to my wall decor with this company was this... How do you decide when there are so many cute, fun and gorgeous options?! Really! I finally made use of my best gal pal and ran my favorites by her. We both seemed to have fun with the selection process.

In the end, I decided on a constellation scene, Scorpio and the Blue Ridge. It was absolutely perfect for adding a dreamy touch to a bedroom! The decal arrived quickly and securely shipped in a sturdy tube {this is so important as I have ordered a decal from another site in the past that arrived folded and unusable as it never flattened out properly...} I unrolled it, oohed and ahhed and hopped on to the next moment in this busy life.

This is what it looked like on the site.



A few moments later, my husband asked me to have a look. I couldn't believe he already had it up! It looks fantastic in our bedroom and would look great in a living room, maybe behind a sofa as well! My son suggested putting one on a ceiling too!

Mr. Sweet Silly Sara informed me that the decal was incredibly easy to apply to the wall and that it was practically effortless because of the shape and size of the decal.  {We got the large size.}

This is what it looks like on a wall in my home.



Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience with this company. They make great products to bring  new life to any space. Many years ago we featured a canvas print over here and it is still looking fabulous on the wall of my sons room! I know that this decal will be a part of the atmosphere of our bedroom for many years to come. It is so peaceful and pretty I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to take it down. However, should you change your mind about a decal from My wonderful Walls, rest assured these can be removed without damaging the wall, and with little effort.

If you want to add some awesome to your walls, you will not want to miss this giveaway! My Wonderful Walls has graciously offered to give one incredibly lucky reader a $100 gift certificate to the site! This giveaway is not endorsed or affiliated with facebook or any social media site or application. The prize is to be delivered from the sponsor. The giveaway is open to US residents, 18 and older.



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Zesty Pickle Dip

Samples were provided to inspire this recipe.

This Zesty Pickle Dip recipe combines cream cheese goodness and a kick of mouthwatering pickle flavor into one easy to make and even easier to eat dip! Serving alongside John Wm. Macy's Sesame Gruyere Cheese Crisp is the perfect choice for this addictive dip!


My family is busy as the school year comes to a close. My husband is wrapping up the year and busier than ever as students return their books and devices. My son has games, practices, lessons and parties to attend. My daughter and I are trying to get ready for having the guys home with us for a few months, taking in the sunshine and spending extra time at the park. In the afternoon before the rush to a game or practice begins, we all need a snack to hold us over until dinner time!

Last week I surveyed my refrigerator and pulled out 2 simple ingredients to make one unforgettable dip. If you like creamy dips or pickles you have to try this. There is so delicious no one will believe it took you less than one minutes time to prepare!

I served Zesty Pickle Dip with John Wm Macy's Sesame Gruyere Cheese Crisps for an incredible flavor. It took the yum of the dip to a new level of bliss with the perfect crispy crunch! It was devoured in an instant. I honestly had to grab a small dish and run away to snap a few shots. My bunch liked this dip that much!






print recipe

Zesty Pickle Dip
A creamy dip with lots of pickle flavor!
Ingredients
  • 6 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons zesty pickle relish
Instructions
Combine softened cream cheese and pickle relish.
With a fork, mix the 2 ingredients together for about 30 seconds or until well blended.Serve with crackers, chips or bread.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time:



This Guide Will Help You To make The Most of Your Time In Costa Rica

If you’re traveling to Costa Rica in the near future, you’re going to want to make sure you make the most of your time there. This post aims to give you a few useful tips so that you can have one of the most unique and amazing experiences imaginable. Enjoy!


Start Being More Positive
If you have an upcoming trip to Costa Rica, one of the best things you’ll do is start being more positive right away. Why? Well aside from the fact you have an incredible experience coming up, Costa Rica is one of the happiest places in the world. Some even consider it to be the happiest! The people are super friendly and will smile at you, so be prepared to smile back. The happiness is usually infectious.


Consider Volunteering
Costa Rica is one of the most incredible places to volunteer. Not only will you become close to members of the community, you’ll be able to make a real difference. You just can’t beat that feeling! Volunteer in Costa Rica if you want to have a go at tree planting, help endangered red monkeys, or teach English. If you want more, there’s too much to name here. You can even head over and then decide once you’ve arrived.


Book A Beach Or Tree House
If you have the cash and want to enjoy a day or two pf pure luxury, book a tree or beach house. You will overlook the jungle, or some other spot of gorgeous scenery. It’s not something you forget in a hurry! You can enjoy a luxurious space, and plenty of privacy too. That is apart from the visitors you’ll get from time to time. Monkeys turning up unannounced!


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Use Public Transport
Make sure you use public transport here. It is much more affordable and run fairly regularly, so you can get to where you want to go quickly. It’s better to have an experienced local taking you where you want to go. Plus, the last thing you want to do is drive when you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself!


Shop At Local Markets
Check out the local markets for unique finds and fresh food. Cook with your fresh local produce at home if you do rent somewhere nice and private.


Make Sure You Don’t Miss The National Parks
There are 32 national parks in total. Here, you can enjoy wildlife, sloths bats, butterflies and more. There are even falcons, tropical land crabs, and racoons.


Spend Some Time Relaxing on The Beach
There are a number of incredible beaches in Costa Rica, and many things you can do on them. You could catch a tan, play frisbee, ride a horse, read a book, watch the sunset, or take a surf lesson at one of the amazing surf schools. Maybe you could pick up a new skill while you’re here.


Don’t Stress
Don’t stress here. Don’t try to cram too much in. Simply go with the flow and enjoy yourself. Costa Rica is all about staying happy and relaxed!

Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Dip



There is something about Brown Sugar that has completely stolen my heart over the past few months. It adds so much depth to recipes. When it is added to cream cheese? Watch out! Yummy stuff right!?

Roo is a busy boy in the spring. He has multiple sports which keep us running to soccer and t ball several nights a week for a few weeks as the end of soccer overlaps with the beginning of t ball. I always try to have a snack ready when Roo gets home to hold him over until we make it back home for dinner. A few weeks ago, I tossed some soft pretzel bites in the oven when an idea hit me. This idea turned out to be the yummiest thing to happen in terms of dipping for a long time!






print recipe

Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Dip
A sweet, creamy dip that is perfect for soft pretzels, cookies and crackers!
Ingredients
  • 6 ounces Cream Cheese
  • 2 ounces Water
  • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
Instructions
Add 2 ounces of water and 6 ounces of cream cheese to a small sauce pan, heat until thoroughly heated and well blended.
Pour into a serving dish and top with brown sugar.Serve with cookies, crackers, soft pretzels, or bread.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time:
It is every bit as yummy as it looks! It is so easy to make and will be perfect for serving at parties! I think this would be great with bread too!

What is your favorite dip? Tell me all about it in a comment.
You might also enjoy this Easy Cheesy Chicken Taco recipe.

A Pretty Pair of Panties Delivered to Your Door With Panty by Post

Thanks to my friends at Panty by Post for providing me with a sample to inspire this post.

Ladies, I know I am not the only one that sometimes puts my own needs last. Between working, managing our homes, the busy season of raising kids and being a good partner... seriously. Sometimes, the efforts I put into everything leave me drained. I might look halfway presentable at any given moment but under that untucked mom shirt and a skirt or leggings... my poor husband. It is almost always some good old mom panties, you know, the kind you buy in a 5 pack at the grocery store. Not at all glamorous. 

Do you end up rocking those kind of panties too? It seems like once a week I think, Sara, girl buy some panties. Buy something that is pretty, something that has been missing from your wardrobe since you became a mom... but like I mentioned earlier, life moves fast and that to do list gets longer and longer. Making a trip to the mall for something I desire? Please. I will always desire time at home more than time at the mall. 

I found a service that is a ton of fun and is helping me stock my panty drawer with so not my normal mom style panties!

Panty by Post is a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription service that delivers a great pair of panties to your door each month. With feminine styles and several levels of subscription to meet your panty style wishes, this is something you really want to try! It is a nice way to try new styles, to get something awesome delivered to you and to avoid a trip to the mall!

This is a great idea for a gift for a special lady or a fantastic treat for yourself. Because we are friends, you can tell Panty by Post I sent you when you subscribe and use this code IMNEW15 at checkout to save $15 on your subscription!



I got a really great bordeaux thong from the Signature Line. It is really comfortable, feminine and stylish. It is kinda crazy, but girls, when I started rocking some not my normal mom undies, I felt incredible! My confidence level seemed to improve.

Overall, Panty By Post rocks. This is a cool service that I think you will like as much as I did!