Friday Favorites

It's the weekend! This week was filled with joy as we got the keys to our home for the next 3 years, frustration as Logan is a Threenager and is driving me crazy, hilarity as Logan is, again, a Threenager and I learned what that term was and it cracked me up because it is so true (and this life is at times pretty hilarious), and the mundane boringness that comes with having temp furniture and not really being able to start decorating until our HHG (Household Goods) arrive NEXT MONTH, which is a month later than promised!

Now on to my Friday Favs:

 

1. White Walls and White Walls Marketplace

(Photo from: White Walls Online)

Ever wondered where you could go to buy all those awesome (and of easily movable from home to home) crafts and décor that you see in the homes of your favorite military families?! Well now there is the White Walls Marketplace where you can go to one place in internetland, browse all of the amazingly beautiful creations made by military members and spouses, then when you see something you like, click on it and it takes you right to their website or etsy store to purchase it. Super easy right!? This awesome idea was the brain child of the White Walls Blog and corresponding Facebook page Founder Erin Morris and Co-Founder Megan Smith. Those are sites made specifically for military families to come together and share their decorating ideas to make the white walls that we inherit at each base feel more like home. Super cool idea that I love and look to for inspiration for basically every decorating need in my home, especially with this move. What better way to support military families than to support their small businesses?! The White Walls Marketplace is exciting, new, creative and fun! Don't want to buy anything? Just check out their blog, facebook, pinterest or instagram pages to get some home decorating inspiration!! You won't be disappointed (If you are a military business owner who wants to sell your home décor on the white walls marketplace you can follow the instructions to join the marketplace here and start selling!)

****No they aren't sponsoring this post I just think White Walls is super duper awesome haha

2. Sweet Chili Sauce

 

I am not sure why but I have basically been putting sweet chili sauce on everything that I can. After having it on some popcorn chicken at my friend Nikita's house last weekend I became obsessed and now if I'm home and it sounds like it may be a good idea I am throwing it on there. This also means I am having a lot more popcorn chicken and chili sauce snacks than I should be during a day. I had only ever had it on Lumpia but it is so yummy on everything else too! Who knew haha

 

3. Project Paper Hearts

 

I read about Project Paper Hearts on Jo, My Gosh and then within the same week I saw an instagram post about it from Munchkins and the Military so this Thursday I took a break from packing up to move to our house from TLF and got to crafting with my little. Project Paper Heart collects handmade Valentines Day cards to mail to the children at St. Jude. Her goal is 200 handmade cards and as of January 17 they still had 168 to go. I hope that ours make it in time!! If I can do it with my obvious lack of crafting skills then you can do it too....so join us! It's so awesome to make a child smile and we are all so blessed in more ways than we can count.

 

 4. Military Spouse of the Year Voting and Marissa-Ellen Patterson

          (Photos From: Military Spouse Magazine)

 

It's the time of year when Americans and military spouses are encouraged to vote for their favorite military spouse that is contributing to their base, their community and country. I nominated my dear friend Marissa-Ellen who has made not only a huge impact on my life when I was first starting out as a military spouse but the woman who I hope to be like one day (even though we are just about the same age). She is passionate about helping military spouses adjust to this life, especially moving to a new country for the first time, she is active in her Enlisted Spouses Club and volunteers with AWAG (Americans working around the globe). I admire her, her chosen career working with veterans in whatever capacity she is able (before they PCS'd to England she worked with the Wounded Warrior Project, something I also wish to do and now assists veterans as they transition from military to civilian life) and how awesome, active and involved she is as a mom and dedicated wife. She does all of this while still making sure they make the best of their duty station and traveling around the world. I am so honored to be able to call her my friend. If you don't already have a horse in the race please take some time to vote for her here. There are so many other amazing spouses nominated this year that you can see here so even if you don't want to vote for Marissa there are so many other options. (They just released the winners for the base level and she won for RAF Lakenheath!!! Next round of voting begins February 4th with the top 18 spouses)

5. My "I'm your new neighbor" move in gifts

 

 

We finally moved into our house this week!! Remember when I listed all of those awesome ideas to help you introduce yourself when you move into a new home? Well we moved in this week and naturally I had to follow my own advice. I couldn't decide which one to do but I ended up combining both the popcorn and the measuring cup ideas (I bought much more candy but I stress ate it during the move). Our tower (building) on base has a Facebook page and when I introduced myself on there a few people reached out, welcomed us and were very friendly so when I made them for my floor and those 3 other people. I hope it will be well received and that they enjoy them (Isaac said that they're too corny and he would throw it away...I know RUDE!) I just dropped them off so hopefully when they wake up and get the day started they will see them and they will be well received! I'll keep you posted

**I got beat by my neighbor in the new neighbor gift department. Our awesome next door neighbor and her handsome little brought over some flowers tonight after dinner and before bath...she caught an epic tantrum and didn't even blink....I see a new friend in my future

Soooo those were my favs from the week! I hope everyone has a great weekend and check out who I'm linking up with here!

Hey! We're your new neighbors!

 

This week we got that wonderful phone call that everyone waits for when getting to a new base and so the time has almost come for us to move out of TLF! After just about 28 days we finally have a home! We got to see our house this week, say we will take it and now we are waiting for an inspection and official date to move in (which we should find out on Friday). It's not where we wanted to live on base (there are 4 separate housing areas and our friends that we wanted to live near are on the west side and we will be on the east side) but it is the size we wanted and since we are only allocated a 2 bedroom, with the one kid per room rule and all, that is great news. We got a 3 bedroom tower which is basically a 3 bedroom apartment in a high rise on base. It's nice enough for the 3 years we will be here and we will make it home. Pictures will come as soon as we get moved in!

Anyways I was scouring Pinterest and the Internet looking for cute ways to introduce our family to our new neighbors. There are 5 other homes on our floor (even though I think 2 are empty but I'm going to make 5 anyway) so I didn't want to do something super elaborate or time consuming. Since we will be here 3 years I figured what better way to introduce The Cunningham family than to give a little gift letting our new neighbors know who we are and that we are here. Plus it may help soften their hearts and help them remember not to complain when they hear the more frequently occurring that I would like crazy toddler tantrum from way outside of our home since we are right in front of the elevator. Way better than forcing them to meet us by knocking on your door during your dinner, on your weekend relax time or while you're bringing groceries in. Gives them a choice of whether or not they want to stop by and meet us and gets rid of that awkward "hi I'm your new neighbor! Please like me and not judge me if I look too crazy rushing out late to an appointment" moment

Here are some cute ideas that I found:

I found this one on pinterest with no link (so I linked to the pinterest page) It is so simple, to the point and plays on the common "come over if you need a cup of sugar" neighbor thing. This is actually my favorite and a strong contender. I would put in on a small card though instead of a regular sheet of paper.

(Photo From Pinterest)

 

Who doesn't love fresh cookies? These ideas are simple and just involve baking cookies and wrapping them up! besides if you don't love cookies or want to bale them you can take the tags and attach them to anything!

 

Found this one adorable poem here at Craftaholics Anonymous with a free printable (FREE and ADORABLE! Can't beat it)

 

(photo taken by Linda Gardner)

Got this one here on Embellish with another adorable free printable!

(Photo taken by Kirsten Fuller)

Got this one here on Casa de Lewis with, you guessed it, another super awesome free printable

(Photo taken by Sada Lewis)

 

This one from Army Wife Network was another one of my favorites since it should be obvious by now I LOVE a good play on words. This one is easy and cost effective...and another FREE printable!

(Photo taken by Tara Crooks)

This really thoughtful idea from Southern Mess is so cute! (free printable included)

(Photo taken by Stephanie Howard)

 

 

This one from Love The Day is Christmas themed but can easily be changed. Printable available for $5 on her site

 

(Photo taken by Lindi Haws: Love The Day Designs)

 

This last one is simple enough to create. Again, I mean, who doesn't love baked goods that you don't have to bake yourself?! I found it on pinterest again with no link.

 

(Photo From Pinterest)

 

Do you do anything to introduce yourself when you move into a new neighborhood? Let me know what other cool ideas you have!