Take Your Letterboard to the Next Level: Using Die Cuts and Stickers

I am obsessed with my new letter board. I've been using it to make snarky sayings and general observations. I happened to be in the craft store the other day and started thinking about getting more letters for my board when I came up with a different idea. Why not use die cuts and stickers to create a fun playful effect? The possibilities are endless! I'm sharing with you what I did and how I got them to stick to my board AND be reusable. Get ready to take your letterboard to the next level with die cuts and stickers!

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When Should I replace my Windows? Four Signs you Should Look For

This post is sponsored by Sears Home Services. All opinions are 100% my own.
Windows provide more than a view to the outside and light to the indoors. Most of us don't even think about replacing our windows until there is a problem. Did you know that replacing or upgrading your windows can not only increase your home's value but it can also make your home more comfortable and save you money.  I've got some signs that will help you know when it's time to replace your windows.

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Why You Should Consider an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation for your Family

Some of the best memories in my childhood included family vacations and I want to make sure that I expose my children to similar travel experiences. In the past few years my husband and I started vacationing at all-inclusive resorts. We tried one as a couple and then decided that the kids would probably enjoy staying at one too, and since then we've stayed as a family at three different all-inclusive resorts. If friends ask for recommendations for a family vacation I usually point them in the direction of an all-inclusive resort. It's not always the first thing on a families mind, but maybe after reading this post, you will decide that an all-inclusive resort is the perfect vacation for your family.

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Tips and Tricks to Help You Organize Your Cleaning Supplies

This post is written by me on behalf of HomeRight. All opinions are 100% my own. I wouldn't tell you about something I didn't love.
I have a confession to make. I'm a closet hoarder. If I can close a door or a drawer, I'm happy to let the clutter build. I try to clean and organize but in no time things are a mess again. I read something not too long ago that said if you keep cleaning and organizing the same spaces then that's not your problem. The problem is that you have too much stuff. This was my light bulb moment and I started thinking about the areas I have cleaned and organized and those spaces that I have had major purges in, I've noticed have continued to stay clean; places like my desk and my master closet. So I have started the purge and I started in my cleaning closet. I had cleaning supplies scattered through four different areas of my home and now I have them in one location and I'm sharing with you how I organized my cleaning supplies. I'm letting you in on what worked for me and maybe it will work for you too!

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Tips for Surviving a Long Haul Flight

The worst part of travel for most people is getting there. I don't know too many people who like long-haul flights. I've flown my fair share and after a few 10+ hour flights, you get to be an expert. That doesn't mean all flights go by in the blink of an eye, some drag on forever, but these tips should help you survive a long flight with your sanity in tact ready to enjoy your final destination.

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Painting a Room Navy

I'm not afraid of color. I'm pretty sure every room in our old house was some different color. We even had a red bathroom. But I do love neutrals. Our whole house is fairly neutral but I am getting an itch to paint a room navy blue. I've been seeing navy as a home painting trend for awhile now. I know I want to paint my dining room, and I've started narrowing down colors, but I think navy can be tricky. I don't want it to be too blue or too black or too light or too dark. I want it to be perfect. So I started looking around because I thought if I saw a paint color I loved in someone's home, maybe I would find the right one. So here I am, narrowing down my options so I can paint a room navy and sharing some inspiration with you. I'd love to hear your opinions, especially if you've painted a room navy before. 

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Getting the Most out of Your First Home Security System

This is a sponsored post for MONI Smart Security. All opinions are 100% my own. 

One time, my dad was painting the dining room when two police officers suddenly appeared inside the house. We had just moved into a new home with a security system and had not a single clue how to use it. My dad had pushed the window open for some air and a silent alarm went off, alerting the police. This happened not just once but twice before my parents decided to cut the service. We just couldn't figure out how to make a security system work for our family; we had too many false alarms. Fast forward to several decades later, I now have a home and three kids of my own and it's my desire to make our house a safe and secure place for my family to land. We want to be able to have worry-free holidays away and feel secure when we are at home. I'll be honest though, there was a little bit of an adjustment, but here are some tips on how we learned how to get the most out of our first home security system. 

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I Tried the Instant Pot and I am Not Sold

Last year for Christmas I got an Instant Pot. I asked for one after hearing everyone sing it's praises. It didn't take me long to unbox it, but then I struggled. I'm still struggling. If there is one thing I tell those who ask about it, it's that the learning curve is steep. So here is what I think about the Instant Pot one year later with my complete review.

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How to Get Started with Your Letter Board

I've always been a fan of a good quote. In high school I filled my wall with some of my favorites. I think it's because I'm a big fan of words. I love how you can put together words and create a statement that is so profound that it makes you stop and think. I also like it when words can make you take a breath and laugh. It's probably why I have been loving this letterboard trend. I just jumped on the bandwagon and in case you did too, I'm going to share some tips on how you can get started with your letterboard. I know...probably my first step would be to get some punctuation! Just ignore my lack of a question mark will ya.

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DIY a Modern Tree Stump Natural Wood Lamp

I was wandering the aisles of Target like any suburban mom does and I saw a wood vase just sitting there. It was telling me that it wanted to be a lamp. Well, it didn't speak audible words, I'm not crazy. But I looked at it and turned it all around in my hands and was like where the heck is the rest of this? It was just darn near begging to be turned into a lamp. There was a little knot in the bottom back of it that had a hole that would be perfect for the cord to go through and dang, it looked like something I would find in a high-end store. I just knew I could make it without the high-end price and that is what I did. Well, I didn't as much as I instructed my husband to make it. But I supervised. I love how it turned out and wouldn't you know it, a quick google search found similar modern teak lamps for hundreds and thousands of dollars. Now, I wouldn't spend that on a lamp, but you get the point. Why not DIY one and get the look? And that is what I'm going to do. I'll show you step by step how we created this modern tree stump teak lamp and how you can make your own.

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My Mom's Classic Banana Bread Recipe

I remember when I was a freshman in college, my mom came up for a visit and brought a loaf of banana bread. It was gone in a matter of minutes. I never realized how good it was until I was eating dorm food and I had a more refined palate towards anything that didn't taste like cardboard apparently. So maybe that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but I promise you, this classic banana bread recipe is the only recipe you will need. It's always been a crowd favorite and my family often requests it. In the past week alone, I've made four loaves and not a single piece has gone to waste! 

I think some of the best recipes come from vintage cookbooks. I'm especially fond of Betty Crocker cookbooks. This one was a hand me down from my mom. Some of the pages are sticking together and you can flip through and find coupons slipped inside from 1970, but the one recipe I flip to time and time again is this classic banana bread recipe. I'm calling it my mom's classic because this is the recipe she used and now I've passed it on to my family. I promise you, your family will love it too!

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My One Little Word of 2018

Does this happen to anyone else: You hear a word and then keep hearing that same word over and over again? I was talking to a guy friend about the most random thing and I used the word patina in our conversation. He said he heard that word for the first time the day before when he was watching Fixer Upper with his son {yep, the Fixer Upper love spans all generations!}. I've been thinking on my one little word of 2018 for a few weeks now. The same word keeps popping up and today as I was having my quiet time and I think I finally settled on it. My word is delegate. 

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2017 Teodoro Travels-A Year Coast to Coast

Did anyone else get to the end of this year and wonder where it went? Holy cow! Yep. That was me. But then I scroll back through my photos on my phone and I'm like, gee, I did a whole lot of stuff in 2017. I consider it a good year when I get to travel around the world. I'm not much of a home body so I consider it a success if I hop a plane a few times. Mission accomplished. I even finally made MVP status with my favorite airline {Alaska Airlines if you were wondering}. So why don't we take a peek at all the places I've been this year. It's kind of fun looking back and just for fun, you can leave me a comment with some of your favorite places you made it to this year too. We can start a fun little list. 

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