May 2020 – Bits of Love Creations

Decorating Your Tiered Tray

I know you’ve all seen the tiered trays that are trending. In fact they’ve been trending for a few years now. I love them! There are so many different ways to decorate them and there is no wrong way… just do it how YOU want!

I made one, like so many others have, by using materials from Dollar Tree. Look for a DIY blog on that later. But I didn’t want to spend a lot of money each season for decorations, because I love to change things up way too often. While stuck in quarantine, I decided I would try my hand at decorating for as many seasons as possible with mostly things I already had. Mal helped me and we had a blast being creative! In all honesty, we could’ve probably decorated for more themes since we actually became pretty decent at re-using a lot of the items.

Winter – Hot Cocoa:

For the winter decorations, We went with a Hot Cocoa theme.. We used a small glass milk bottle from Michaels that I painted white on the inside. The greenery is lambs ear I’ve had forever, and the little one piece on top in the back is a photo holder (with the photo holder removed) also from Michaels. The camping cup is one I have had forever from —. I added a little ribbon and the most adorable mug topper from the Etsy shop – mug toppers. A little white Christmas tree, pick up truck ornament, and wood box present add more dimension to the bottom layer. Also on the bottom layer is a small marshmallow mug with another cute topper from – mug toppers, and some scrap material in a Christmas’y’ plaid. The small hanging chalkboard sign was found at Hobby Lobby a few years ago and I just used a chalk dust type of font on my Cricut and cut the words out in vinyl.

Valentine’s Day:

We re-used the milk glass, lamb’s ear, marshmallow mug with topper, and berry greenery photo holder. We added a few teddy bear Valentine’s I have had for longer than I’ve has my kids! lol!We also added a heart shaped candy dish (also had forever), homemade snowballs out of yarn, a few glitter hearts from floral picks, and a kitchy cupcake shelf sitter, all items I have had for longer than I can remember.

St. Patrick’s Day:

The ST. Patrick’s Day trays were difficult for us… because we just didn’t have many things. I had found the plastic gold coins, green cauldron, and the green hats at WalMart earlier in the season for super, super cheap. The hats fit perfectly on my little marshmallow guy. The shamrock garland, leprechaun, wooden shamrock, and shot glass I have had for years. The ‘luck of the Irish’ and Welcome signs I also found earlier in the season at Hobby Lobby. If you look, you can always find things like this for decorations for very little money!

Spring:

To freshen up the trays for spring, we opted for brightly colored items and some green Easter grass. The small metal pot, springs of pink berries, and cute frog were found at Hobby Lobby. The daisy candy dish and Gerbera Daisy flowers have been in my craft closet a long time. The hanging sign was a Michaels find about 5 years back, and we just wrote Spring in chalk. There is definitely more room to add other things, but this starts the decor out just fine.

Easter:

Moving into Easter, we kept a lot of the tray the same with the grass and the Gerbera Daisies. We added a little more grass to fill out the surface of the trays. The Easter sign, carrots, and Bunny Trail rock were all found at Hobby Lobby last year. The woodland bunny was found at Michaels, and the eggs and egg carton were found at Dollar General. All last year. We swapped the marshmallow mug for a different one (no chocolate on top) and added felt bunny ears made by me, and a ribbon.

Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day:

We kept this simple so it would be easy to un-assemble and re-assemble throughout the summer months. The 3 flags we have had for a while, but the starry mason jar was purchased this year at Hobby Lobby. The firecrackers, ‘Home of the Brave’ sign, and Uncle Sam are all from Hobby Lobby. The candle holders are from my days (long gone) as a candle lady, and the bear was a gift from my mom years ago. I wanted a little filler – nothing too over bearing – so I took blue and red scrap material and made a miniature fabric bunting.

Summer – Beach:

So this one was mine and Mallory’s guilty pleasure. Being in quarantine, we could not and would not go to stores. But for this one, we found almost everything on sale at Hobby Lobby and ordered online. We didn’t have much for this kind of theme at the house already and set a budget because, quite frankly, we were having shopping withdrawl and this was an inexpensive way to get a ‘quick fix’. We already had the rocks, piece of driftwood, and sand. Everything else was in that Hobby Lobby online order and was less than $20! Warning: this one was a mess to clean up!

Fall:

For fall we broke out the camping mug, mug topper, and lambs ear again. With it we added a Dollar Tree ceramic pumpkin, a foam pumpkin painted blue (also from DT), and another covered with buffalo check fabric. We also use a spare piece as a napkin to lay on the side of one of the trays. The fall candle holders are a Rae Dunn find from Marshalls. Seriously if you don’t shop TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods, you’re missing out! I always find the cutest stuff at great prices!

Halloween:

Pumpkins, spiders, and leaves! I loved doing this one! All the leaves were off of a leaf garland I’ve had since I got married. It’s slowly started falling apart over the last couple of years, but I don’t typically get rid of the leaves for ideas such as this. All the pumpkins… ceramic, foam, and painted are all from DT. The flowers are also from DT as are the spider rings. The cutest wooden ghost, and teddy bear pumpkin I’ve had forever. The pumpkin sign on top was purchased from Hobby Lobby probably 2-3 years ago. The ‘hello Fall’ piece is actually a candle I purchased last year from TJ Maxx. I added one of my small mug toppers to it and think it’s pretty cute! My most favorite piece is the witch. As a kid my mom did a lot of ceramics painting. This particular year, (I think 1979), she painted a brunette witch for me, and a blonde with for my sister. Even with the chip on her witch hat, she has so many sentimental memories for me.

Thanksgiving:

Keeping the decor mostly the same for Thanksgiving, I just added a wooden turkey I purchased from WalMart many years ago, and another of my favorite ceramic pieces from my childhood, the scarecrow. Like the witch in the Halloween tray, this little guy has been with me since the 70’s or 80’s. I love the fact that my mom made these for my sister and I and am even more happy that my kids can have these as a part of me and a part of their grandma for years to come.

Christmas:

For Christmas I brought the out a different marshmallow much and attached a plaid Santa hat which was originally an ornament from Michaels. The present is just a box I had in my gift wrap tote as is the bow. The same plaid material that was used in the Winter – Hot Cocoa tray is used here. I also re-used the grapevine present, white tree, hot cocoa sign, milk jar, and berry greenery. The holly leaves are from old candle wreaths I had when the kids were little. The final addition was the wooden Christmas sign from Hobby Lobby last year.

So I have to mention, the marshmallow mugs I’ve used throughout are a plastic take off of the ceramic ones floating around the internet. I ordered these through Oriental Trading. I needed up with 1 dozen, 4 of each kind they offer, and saved money per piece in the process. I e given some away and used others in baskets for silent auctions. All in all not a bad deal since I only use them for decorating… you can check them out here.

There are so many more options you can do with these trays! You can do birthdays, New Years, Farmhouse, whatever you like… I think that’s part of the appeal! Mix and match, fit your style and decor, it’s so easy! And don’t forget you can find so many inspiring ideas on Pinterest. Follow our DIY Tiered Tray board to see all the pins we find and re-pin!

Have a lovely day,

Fashion Finds – Workout At Home

Hey friends!

I am back with another great Fashion Find, in my opinion. I am an Exercise Science major so as you can probably infer, I love to work out. I have to be active and make sure to fit it into my daily routine or my whole life balance is just off. Working out is important, again in my opinion, but having good workout clothes makes it even better. I have found some good clothes along with pieces of equipment, all at affordable prices, for you to check out. Since it is more convenient for some individuals to workout at home rather than finding time to go to your local gym, I thought I would give you all an insight into what I have been doing with my at home workouts!

Workout clothes. They make or break your experience! If you are constantly tugging at your pants or fidgeting with your shirt, you are not getting the full workout experience because you are just distracted. Marshalls, the love of my life, had an amazing deal for a workout crop top. They had full length versions as well so that is always an option! It is a super cute blue color with short sleeves, only $6.99 guys! Just amazing! Leggings have always been a struggle for me, since I live in them I am super picky. Of course I hopped on the Lululemon trend because I was desperate for a good pair and they sure lived up to the hype, BUT Walmart leggings are an amazing alternative. I got a few pair to try and let me just tell you, GREAT option. I got a cute cropped pair with side pockets for your phone, and a cute mesh design that wraps around the legs. I was skeptical at first, but I am so glad I decided to try it out because the price of $14.96 for leggings now a days was UNBEATABLE. Definitely a must on that one!

Next up, I have some equipment I have been using. Workout equipment can be expensive, but if you look in the write places man can you find a deal. My mom and I were at Five Below just doing the usual look around type of shopping, and we found a workout section. Like who would have thought. I, of course as my mom would say, had to get some stuff to try out because the price was too good not to. I got a yoga ball, a set of 3 resistance bands (at varying resistance), and ankle weights. They were all just $5.00 each. So in total, $15 for some must have workout pieces. They are so versatile and can be used for a variety of exercises, so it was a beneficial purchase.

Lastly, my water bottle. I am glued to my water bottle, so a reliable one was key. I have been using one that my mom and I found at Walmart a few years ago before I went away to college. It definitely lasted, but with some dings, dents, and chipped paint. I have been on the look out for a good, but reasonably priced, one. Man did I hit the jackpot. We were at Marshalls, no shock there, and came across the style I have been looking for. I was skeptical because I really wanted it to last long term because I live by my water bottles. So far, this water bottle has been amazing to me and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone that cares to listen, or read it in this case;). It was $12.99 and most absolutely, positively worth it. They had a variety of colors, from neutrals to vibrant, and I got a coral color. I use it everyday of my life and would be absolutely lost without it!

So as promised, those are the workout finds that I have been working with recently! Above and beyond that I have some key workouts that I have been focusing on at home to better myself. I use a note in my phone, so I will screen shot that and share below! Maybe you will find it useful and join in with me!

Until next time,
Xoxo Mal

Coffee Crawl – At Home

So what do you do when you want to do another coffee crawl and you are in quarantine? You do one at home!

Each week when I sit down to discuss all the things going on with Bits of Love with my girls, we have coffee and hash it all out. So this particular day just happened to be Megan’s birthday… so we did all the things.

I’ll start off with my coffee. I drink a donut house blend each morning (that I’m not out doing a coffee crawl) by Victor Allen. I usually purchase this from Big Lots, but it’s also available on Amazon. If I’m lucky to catch them on sale, I can get it as low as 19 cents per k-cup! You cannot beat that! Oh yeah, I have a k-cup brewer. I have the Keurig 2.0 and love it. I do take my coffee with a little French vanilla creamer. My creamer of choice, is great value french vanilla. It’s more affordable than the name brands, but adds just the amount of flavor I like.

On this day, Mallory made her DIY frozen mocha using espresso from her espresso machine. She takes 1/4 cup of sugar, 4 oz. of espresso, 1/4 cup of chocolate syrup, 1 cup of milk, and ice.

She mixes it all together in a blender and voila! You can actually add whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzle on the top if you wish. Today she opted to not. It’s her DIY version of what you can find at places STL Bread Company and Starbucks.

Megan likes her coffee black. She says she likes it strong, but not bitter. She often likes to use her great grandmother’s coffee grinder and grind her coffee beans fresh, then brews it in her tiny Black & Decker coffee maker. I let her tell you about her love of coffee.

I love strong coffee and I used to just drink any kind of coffee, but I’ve started to educate myself a little more about the art of coffee. I’ve learned that the coffee grounds you buy from the store are typically super acidic which gives them a really bitter taste. This is because once the coffee beans are ground, they should really be brewed soon after. Coffee grounds from the store are ground up into fine pieces, almost like a powder, and typically sit on the shelves or are shipped from place to place for months before they are even bought and brewed; thus loosing a lot of their smooth flavor.

I have started using whole beans and grinding them myself before I brew my morning coffee…holy cow there is definitely a difference (not to mention the old hand grinder is very fun to use)! I have also learned that when you grind your own coffee beans, if you don’t grind them as much — leave them in larger chunks — you taste more of the coffee’s flavor and get a really smooth brew.

In this journey of mine to learn more about coffee, I found a favorite bean. It’s called Death Wish which is just amazing in and of itself. This coffee is high in caffeine and low in acidity, not to mention it is supposedly the strongest coffee in the world. I’m not sure how true that is, but I am HERE FOR IT!

I’m not entirely sure I would ever want to try Megan’s Death Wish coffee! I love coffee, but that sounds super strong. So how’s that for your coffee education? lol! I’m sure there’s much much more to be learned about the art of the coffee bean and I am sure Megan will continue to share!

Have a lovely day!

Burger Bounce – Southwest Diner

Southwest Diner’s name tells you what it is and what it’s about right up front, baby. A diner with a Southwestern aesthetic (primarily with a New Mexico-flair, as indicated by the rather large map of New Mexico hanging on one wall), this restaurant sits in a brick style building with the standard four sided feel next to what seems to be an abandoned food truck. The diner also touts a long wait time if you are to read any online review of the establishment, though whether by circumstance or luck, our wait was a mere 5-10 minutes. Upon entering, you’ll notice the rather tight quarters with a bar shoved into the back corner allowing people to prop up on stools to eat and drink, loudly conversing with the stranger next to them about the sorry state of a football team the area has had no ties to for nearing on four years now.

Only adding to the pure claustrophobia is the copious amount of décor adorning every wall on the building’s insides. I wouldn’t call any of it tacky or offensive really, it can just overwhelm you by sheer volume. There were things reminiscent of the Southwestern area of the country, images of New Mexico state bird the roadrunner were at home, and the paint palette was hues of red, brown, and orange, giving off the arid, desert feel of the state that rewarded this nation with Smokey Bear so many years ago (note that his name is Smokey Bear, not Smokey the Bear. Mindbender for many, I’m sure). The back wall next to where we sat boasts a mirror so that you can see the queso drip down your face as you eat, though most of it is covered with well-done cartoonish art likely crafted by an artist in the community, if not one that worked or is working at the diner. Speaking of the artistic community, the final wall of note had little paper figures in bags certainly created by a local resident, each of which was a different fictional character with customizable limbs. I noticed Ellen Ripley and John Rambo, among a myriad of others. All of these were next to the aforementioned poster of New Mexico towering over the denizens of Southwest ready to impart detailed information on the location of Santa Ana County to any brazen enough to approach the imposing monolith. We had fun looking for the city of Grants on it since that’s where my mom’s aunt & uncle use to live!

Perhaps the most stressful part of the entire experience is how cramped everything ended up being. Especially in times such as these, where its perhaps best not to be all that close to any one person at any given time. The time at which we went was around noon on Saturday, and the place was packed. This isn’t even to say that there were a tremendous amount of individuals there, but the location is a bit on the smaller side with a number of communal tables, where you get to sit at the same table as strangers that you don’t know and overhear about how they have countless problems that they take no actual measures to solve themselves. In fact, at one point during our meal one of the servers dropped a large amount of food at a table directly neighboring ours. These things happen, and it isn’t much out of the ordinary, though it does beg the question: How often does this happen in such a tight environment? Regardless, be prepared that if you aren’t a people person that you may be quite literally surrounded by people.

As always, the food is saved for last. Now, we were led to believe that this was a big burger joint, as we found the restaurant itself on a list of the best burgers in the area. However, Southwest Diner is seemingly more of a Mexican restaurant. There are two burgers and one black bean burger on their menu. Since one of the burgers was standard and the other was a specialty, I opted for that item to get a more authentic experience. This was the Green Chile Cheeseburger. The burger came with, as advertised, green chile and cheddar cheese, as well as most anything else one would expect to find on a complete burger. Lettuce, onions, “the works” as any hack writer would probably describe it. Though perhaps my inability to sum up with another descriptor outside of listing every individual ingredient puts me in that same camp. I did, however, add bacon to mine. The sandwich was good I must say, as although I found the meat kind of dry, everything else more than made up for it. This is probably the first burger I’ve had in quite a long time where I left everything that came on it when I ate it (sans tomatoes, as those are perpetually horrible). For a period, I started ordering my burgers plain as I felt it was simpler than just explaining what I didn’t want to have on my meal. I had forgotten how much I liked eating all these different additives with my sandwich, especially onions. And the green chile added a decent amount of mild spice, which I assume is the Southwest kick. Overall, Southwest Diner’s aesthetic and food go beautifully hand in hand, though perhaps getting takeout from the place would be for the best if you don’t want to run the risk of excessive social interaction.

Mom’s thoughts:

I agree with Jacob. The “closeness” of the dining area was a little too close for my liking. But the charm added to the experience and I have to say I didn’t actually mind it too much as I enjoyed my company with my son and we had numerous things including that to discuss.

I chose the same burger as Jacob, minus the bacon. Please bacon lovers – do not send me hate mail, I like bacon just fine… however, I do not understand the love so intense that it must be placed on or in everything! I did not notice the dryness of the meat as Jake did, but that may be because the other toppings added plenty of flavor and lush to the burger. The green chile was delicious and did add just the right amount of flavor and spice, in my opinion.

I was worried about the wait due to all the reviews we read prior to going, but the wait was not long at all and it was a beautiful day. We waited outside at a picnic table and enjoyed the sunshine and conversation. I would like to go back again as I am a huge fan of Southwest food.

Have a lovely day!

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