10 Crockpot Recipes {Perfect Pins}

With less than one week left to get organized, here are this week's perfect pins for crockpot recipes!  

OMG! I Love to Cook

Chef This Up

Living Mama Style

Sally Cooks

A Bear in the Kitchen

Just A Pinch Recipes

Key Ingredient

The Crockpot Recipe

Michelle Marie

Epicure Selections

Chickpeas in a Nest - 13 Minute Appetizer (Gluten Free)

Anyone who know me knows that in the last few child-rearing years I am somewhat of a scatterbrain. Absent-minded. Forgetful. Seriously if I don't write something down, its not happening. People tell me this is normal after having kids.  I sure hope so. Otherwise, I should probably have my head examined.  So recently, as per usual, I double booked on a weekend because I didn't have my calendar on me and made two sets of plans that were happening in two different towns for the same evening at very close to the same time.  I would like to add here that the plane were approximately 150km apart. 

Another one of my poor life habits is my inability to really plan too far ahead, and I'm always late.  For pretty much everything. Always.

10 Weekly Planner Ideas {Perfect Pins}

Keeping up the momentum in preparation for Back to School, I found all these great weekly planning tools to help ease into the routine and scheduling that will be required now that there will be school AND extracurricular activities (my boys are into swimming and hockey).  

Easy Weeknight Pasta Dish - Gluten Free

Tonight's dinner was brought to us by 'hurry up', 'everyone's starving' & 'no time'.  We had a wonderful family photo session with a great friend of mine that I will share at a later date so supper plans got a little fragmented.  Hubby had browned the beef before we left and when we returned I played a quick game of "What's in the Cupboards?"

Birthday Celebration Recap: 25 Again

This past weekend was so much fun.  We got a lot in in three short days, and we were sad when we had to get back to reality!  We spent much of the weekend celebrating my birthday with family and friends.  I turned *cough* 25 *cough* (again, this is the third time).  I am happy to share all the events of the weekend in hopes to relive some of it. 

10 Back to School Lunch Ideas {Perfect Pins}

With back to school JUST around the corner, I thought I would seek out some fun lunch ideas for the boys.  My oldest is starting into Grade 1, and my middle is starting Kindergarten!  I can't even believe how fast these last few years have gone!  


Here they are, my fav 10 Back to School Lunch Ideas!

TGIF Link Party - I'm Co-Hosting!

Welcome to the TGIF Link Party at 
Living Better Together and I Want Crazy!

Meet Your Hosts!


Rebecca from Living Better Together

Kat from I Want Crazy 

I'm also excited to introduce our fabulous co-host for this week:

Kristen from 3 Monkeys' Mommy

Brooke from Start at Home.

If you are interested in co-hosting, email Rebecca at fickrj5@gmail.com. Share this party with your friends, and don't forget to make some new ones while you're here! We all love making new friends, don't we?

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Features:

Most Viewed 

500 in 30 by VMG206.

I think it's obvious why this was the most viewed this week, it's a great and super helpful article! Megin brings us a great step by step on how to grow our fan base using Pinterest! Even Pinterest pros will find the advice helpful!

Rebecca's Favorites:

Loaded Eggplant Rounds by Dizzy Busy and Hungry!

I'm afraid me and Thing 2 would have to agree, I've never been one for eggplant, but these look awesome! However, I think she has tricked us both into wanting this delicious dish, honestly, if you add bacon to anything I'll probably love it! I love this unique and healthy twist on traditional loaded potato skins. 

Farm Table Face Lift by The Chick n' Coop.

I'm really loving all things farm related, and this table makeover is just too cute! It's amazing when a little bit of paint can transform something old and beat into something fresh and beautiful! 

Kat's Favorites!

Wall Entry Reveal from Place Of My Taste. 

I love projects that are not big but make a huge impact, like this one. The colors are fantastic and I am in love with the wall organizer. The entire reveal came together so well. 

Banana Caramel Ice Box Cake by Kleinworth & Co. 

I'm tempted not to say anything because the photo speaks for itself, but how can your mouth not water when you look at it! This layered cake of greatness just looks so delicious!

Grab a feature button!

<center> <a href=”http://www.livingbettertogether.com/“><img border=”0″ src=”<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/fickrj5/media/TGIF_featured_zpsbe37ee90.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y405/fickrj5/TGIF_featured_zpsbe37ee90.png" border="0" alt=" photo TGIF_featured_zpsbe37ee90.png"/></a></a></center>
A big thanks to Anyonita over at Anyonita Nibbles for creating our party buttons! ____________________________________________________________________
Link up your recipes, projects, tips and tricks, etc. Each week we'll be featuring some great posts from the previous week, so be sure to check back to see if you were featured and to link up again! 
The party will run from 8:00 pm EST on Thursdays until 8:00 pm EST on Sunday.
Rules:

1. Please follow your hosts and co-hosts in some way! Let us know you did and we'll follow back!

2. If you'd like, grab the party button and tell your friends!

<center> <a href=”http://www.livingbettertogether.com/“><img border=”0″ src=”<a href="<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/fickrj5/media/TGIF_zps40a588c0.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y405/fickrj5/TGIF_zps40a588c0.png" border="0" alt=" photo TGIF_zps40a588c0.png"/></a></a></a></a></center>

3. No Giveaways or Etsy Shops, please.

4. Please link to a specific post, not your homepage.

5. Get inspired! Visit other links! Spread the word! It is a party after all!

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Thank God it's Friday! Get ready to party!

We'll be pinning all of your links to our TGIF Link Party Board on Pinterest to share with our followers!

Gluten Free Greek Style Pitas

There aren't many things that I really really miss about having a regular diet. Pitas are one thing that I really really do. I've been searching and I haven't found a brand or store that carries them gluten free, so I made my own! I didn't know how this would turn out, but GOOD NEWS! They are delicious!! (& fairly simple to make!) 

Bathroom Makeover: Stage One

Earlier this spring, my plan had been to get the top floor of our house refreshed... paint, decor, maybe even some new living room furniture.  Here it is nearly the middle of August, and the plan has finally JUST been put into action!  I decided to start with the bathroom, because its a small space and it would be a nice way to transition into all this work.

I have been looking at paint colours and styles of decor for months now, and I have finally decided what I'm doing with each room!  

NERD ALERT: Backstreet Boys In a World Like This Tour 2013 > After Party

I'm excited to share these photos from the party after the concert, where my friend and I BOTH got photos with Kevin, Howie & Nick!  We did the VIP package for the party, so we also got professional photos done... But in hindsight, we got individual photos on our own cameras/phones, and that didn't require paying the extra $$.  Live and learn.  So next time (and there WILL BE a next time!), I wouldn't put out the extra $ for the group shot. Its fabulous, but probably not worth the extra $.

NERD ALERT: BSB In A World Like This @ Bell Centre Montreal, Aug 6th 2013

Yesterday, a girlfriend and I traveled all the way to the big city of Montreal, Quebec for a very exciting event! We were lucky enough to score great seats at the Backstreet Boys show on their current tour, In a World Like This (insert screams of excitement here).

I have been a fan of the Boys for as long as they have been around (which is 20 Years!) and I have been to nearly every tour they have done.  Its funny, a lot of people ask me why I continue to go to these events... Its different EVERY show, and I love their music.  I would and will go see them again and again.  Its just like that.  

DIY Clay Crochet Hook Handles

This week, two girlfriends and I hit the road for a fun day of shopping in Ottawa.  We were mostly just excited for the adult only shopping.  We were able to spend nearly 3 hours in IKEA!  The last time I was in there I think it was 20 minutes, two tantrums and an abandoned cart because the kids go crazy in there.  (I think its the big open space, makes them lose their minds).  We had such a fun day, and shopped til we dropped!

We hit up a couple of craft stores and I finally purchased some polymer clay for a project that I have been wanting to try for quite some time now.  I LOVE the idea of clay handled crochet hooks and I thought it would be a fun project to do myself.  

Despicable Me Inspired Newborn Accessories: CROCHET PATTERN

I have been working on a couple of special sets of newborn photo props this week.  These adorable sets are for a long-lost nursing school friend of mine who is expecting TWINS in December.... HOW EXCITING IS THAT!?  

These little Minion hats & diaper covers are absolutely too cute, and are a straight-forward pattern that I came up with.  The suspense must be killing you, so here it is: