Friday Favorites

Today's version of Friday Favorites are all things you can access on your phone.  App, website, or account.  Things that I use consistently and best part, don't cost any money.  Happy Friday, friends! 

Cartwheel by Target is addicting and basically like mobile discounts.  You can stack them with items already on sale that week AND with coupons.  It came out about 2 years ago and my sister-in-law and I jumped right on board and have been using it ever since.

I've had snapchat for years.  love using it with family and close friends to send pictures (mostly of my child) without posting them all on social media.  But it's recently become popular for bloggers to show behind the scene snaps and I love it! (I'm katiecarranza on there!)

TheSkimm is a free service that emails you every weekday morning with a summarized version of the latest news happenings and goings ons.  I'm not a big news reader or watcher so this is a perfect and no-effort way for me to stay up to date all while laying in bed in the morning.

I'm no fitness guru, and usually I only work out so I can eat junk food, but I love a good burning workout.  AlexaJeanFitness instagram account is my current favorite way to get free, quick, gym-free workouts in at home.  She often posts simple, no equipment workouts that will make you burn like no other! After trying a few of her posted ones, I went and bought her 30-day Ab Workout plan, and let me tell you...that does not disappoint either!

Wood & Number Cake Toppers

Birthday month still in full effect around here! here are some easy color-blocked style cake toppers.  Right now I don't have a picture of them ACTUALLY topping a cake, since the time hasn't come to use them.  But once I do, I'll be sure to update this post. So for now just use your imagination...and happy celebrating!

Happenings Lately

If you follow me on Instagram you know July is birthday month in our house & we've already marked the BEST one off our calendars.  And the second best one (mine!) is up next on Sunday! We had a fun low-key time celebrating the big number 4 on 7-11.  I've been trying to survive this killer Arizona heat so we spend almost everyday swimming.

Alphabet Felt Garland

I just made something fun to hang above my son's closet.  I followed the same directions to cut the felt letters as the Quote Pillow I made a few months ago.  Very slowly stitch together and hang! 

Happy 4th of July

Tomorrow we celebrate America, those who fought for our freedom and those who continue to protect our independence.  I am grateful for a father who taught me the incredible blessings I have of living in this great country, as well as a brother who serves in the Air Force. My freedom and rights are something I never take for granted and to those who have served, are serving and families of service men and women I once again with all the humility in my heart say 

Thank You.

I hope you all have a fun and safe weekend remembering how lucky we are to live in 

the United States of America.

DIY Donut Float

I found this plain donut float at the Dollar Tree the other day and obviously I had to take it to the next level and add sprinkles...I just free-handed the oblong shapes with multi-surface paint. I'm obsessed.

Tips for Naked Cakes

Hey guys! I wanted to share some tips for beginners to making those super popular "naked cakes".  My sister in law & I made the one for my mom's wedding, which turned out awesome, so let's shrink it down & make a cake for your next special event!

The first step is greasing your cake pans. You need your cakes to come out perfectly and the best way to to that is rub with Crisco then coat with flour. Fill your pans up half-way so they're nice and thick.

If you don't have cake-pan wrappy things to make them level, just use a serrated knife to even them out, in flatness & thickness as well...you want the layers to look even.

You want a thick and sturdy frosting to hold up those layers.  Sidenote: For the big wedding cake, we used dowels to help hold everything up.

Start by spreading a little frosting on your cake stand before your first layer to hold the cake on.

Using a big round frosting tip, pipe a generous layer of frosting on, extending aaaalmost to the edge.

Check up on how even your layers are stacking up, and if necessary, add more frosting in.

Even out any frosting that may have been squished out of the sides.

For the top we did like on the wedding cake, pipe some round mounds on, and using a wide knife or off-set spatula, place in the middle of your mound and gently pull the frosting into the center.

Top with flowers, cake topper, sprinkles, or anything fun and you're set to party!