Fotini, Author at Farmhouse Chic Blog

{ Comfy Car Pillow Tutorial }

September 9, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: car pillow, comfort, comfortable in the car, fabric, Jo Ann Fabrics, kids, sewing, Star Wars Leave a Comment

We bought our van last Winter so we would all be more comfortable and have more space…

Well, my little guy often complains about not being comfortable in the car, so I asked him how I could fix that! He told me he needed a pillow. So, we headed to Jo Ann’s where I let him pick out his own fabric, and of course he chose Star Wars 😉

Follow along with me as I create a pillowcase in a few simple steps!

I bought one yard of fabric for this project, and it was already just about the perfect width to fit my pillow. All I had to do was pin and sew the sides a tad. But, before sewing one of the sides, I pinned a piece of black elastic that I would sew right along with. This would attach to the back of the seat of the car easily. Be sure to have your fabric inside out, so you create seamless lines! Sew both sides and the bottom, making sure to keep one end completely open. On the open end, fold back the fabric about two inches and sew. This creates the traditional pillow case design.

He is now one happy camper, mission accomplished!

Sharing this project on these fantastic blogs!

{ My Breakfast Just Got Easier! }

September 9, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: breakfast, fruit, healthy breakfast, quick breakfast, sponsored ad, yogurt, Yoplait, Yoplait Fruitful 4 Comments

This is a sponsored post and all opinions are my own.

Do you ever find yourself saying “I’ll eat a better breakfast tomorrow” or “I’ll eat something healthier when I have more time”? My mornings are busy and I need something quick and easy. For me, it’s really easier to just eat the “stuff” the kids want to eat. But honestly, it’s not the boost I need to start out my day!

Well, now breakfast just got a little bit easier for me! And it can for you too! Yoplait just came out with delicious Yoplait Fruitful. How is this easier you ask? It has 1/3 cup real fruit at the bottom and 6 ounces of yogurt in each cup! Even better yet, you have six different flavors to choose from: pineapple, strawberry, mango pineapple & orange, blueberry, peach and cherry & red berries. Plus, no artificial sweeteners or flavors. Yum!! My favorites are the pineapple and peach!

Some of my favorite desserts have pineapple and peach in them, so these Yoplait Fruitfuls are great not only for a quick, healthy on-the-go breakfast, but a great afternoon snack or even to rid that evening sweet tooth! And an added bonus, the kids LOVE them!!

Don’t forget to add Yoplait Fruitfuls to your grocery list to pick up the next time you’re at the store! Oh, and don’t leave without your $0.30 off coupon! (Coupon void in LA,NV,NJ,ND and TN).

Yoplait Fruitful is currently available in select Midwest and Central regions. To find out if your local grocer carries Yoplait Fruitful, use the “where to buy” feature located at the bottom of the Fruitful landing page.

Long love fruit!

CLICK HERE for coupon!

And while you’re at it, share your love of fruit with these fun “Fruitful Mantras”!

Too cute, right?!

Thanks to Yoplait for sponsoring this post and for the opportunity to try Yoplait Fruitfuls!

{ The Inspiration Gallery Features }

September 7, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: crafts, diy, fall, fall decor, features, The Inspiration Gallery 3 Comments

Well hello there! It’s such a pleasure to have you here today! I gave into my Fall itch and busted out the decor Friday! I love my house decorated for Fall! Have you started yet?

I had a blast partying with you all at The Inspiration Gallery this week!

A huge THANK YOU to Jamie, Lucy and Taryn for letting me join in on the fun this week!

Please be sure to check out the blog hop I have here each week, All Things Thursday! The party starts every Wednesday night 9pm EST.

Here are a few of the fantastic posts I’m featuring:

Autumn Door Decor from The LilyPad Cottage

Fall Porch Decor from Shabby Love

Rustic and Refined from Zu haus at home

Autumn Twisting from Crafto-Mania

Black and White Glam Pumpkin from A Pumpkin and A Princess

Kitchen Update on a Budget from The Golden Sycamore

Easy DIY Kitchen Chalkboard from Love Grows Wild

Repurposed Card Catalog Reveal from 1 Dog Woof

Antique Wash Stand and Dry Sink from Cottage Instincts

Reupholstered Foot Stool from Confessions of a Serial Do It Yourselfer

Cherished Memory Boxes from Glamorous, Affordable Life

If you were featured, please grab a button!

{ Fab Pins of the Week}

September 6, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: fab pins of the week, fall, fall decor, Fall front porch, Fall picnic, Fall porch, painted pumpkins, pumpkins Leave a Comment

Hey, hey it’s Friday! How excited are you? I’m stoked!

It was nice to have an extra day with Labor Day this week 🙂

I’m in full swing of everything Fall! Are you too?

More than likely in the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my favorite Fall pins!

Follow along with me as I share my favorite from this week!

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1. Creating an inviting entry is something I try to focus on everytime I decorate! I love this over-decorated Fall front porch! Typically, I wouldn’t put this much “stuff” on my porch at once, but I think it really works together nicely! We always seem to buy an abundance of pumpkins and I always pick up one too many mums (wink!)

2. I love seeing all the creative ways to decorate pumpkins rather than the traditional carving. I’ve never been good at carving, so I would normally just leave them plain. I love the use of vintage keys spelling out the word F-A-L-L here! Very creative and rustic, I love it ♥ ♥

3. Painted pumpkins, you’ve stole my heart ♥ I painted pumpkins for the first time last year and loved how they turned out! Anytime we had guests over, they raved over them! They were appealing and out of the norm. I went with bright colors last year, but I’m loving these metallic tones! I can’t wait to get working on this years pumpkins to share with you all!

4. Isn’t this magical? A complete picturesque picnic setting! How fun would it be to plan a spontaneous lunch date with the kids and pitch a spot in the woods or a romantic dinner with your hubby?! I love the thoughts of this! It would also make the perfect scene for a engagement or family photo shoot, sigh!

All of this weeks pins were sourced from my Pinterest page with unknown original sources.

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{ Chicken Noodle Casserole }

September 5, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: chicken noodle casserole, comfort food, Country Crock, dinner, family dinner, quick dinner, sponsored post 10 Comments

Now that the kids are back to school and your schedule is busier than ever, you’re probably looking for a quick, delicious dinner the whole family will love, right?! Well you’re in luck! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite casseroles to make on those busy nights.

Chicken noodle casserole, the perfect filling, tasty goodness! Here’s what you’ll need:

1 package of egg noodles
1 large can of shredded chicken
frozen peas and carrots
1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup and water
8 oz. light sour cream
1-2 tablespoons original Country Crock
1 package butter crackers, crushed
salt and pepper to taste

Start by cooking your egg noodles as directed on the package. In a mixing bowl combine sour cream, frozen peas and carrots, cream of mushroom soup, water (I fill my empty soup can almost full of water), chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Preheat oven to 375. Drain egg noodles and pour into a 13×9 casserole dish. Pour veggie/cream mix onto noodles, covering the noodles entirely. Top with crushed butter crackers and 1-2 tablespoons Country Crock. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

I always love to make corn muffins with this meal too and doll them up with, none other than, Country Crock! This makes the perfect meal for Fall coming up and all those busy school nights! I’m sure this meal will be kid and hubby approved 😉

Country Crock has 0g trans fat per serving
Contains no partially hydrogenated oils
Has no cholesterol
Is 70% less fat than butter per serving
And has 30% fewer calories than butter per serving

Stay connected with Country Crock:

Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Sharing this project on these fabulous blogs!

{ All Things Thursday Blog Hop #9 }

September 5, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: all things thursday blog hop, blog hop, crafts, diy, link party, recipes 6 Comments

Welcome to our All Things Thursday Blog Hop #9!! I can’t believe we’re onto our 9th party already, it’s been so much fun! I look forward to it each week and I hope you do too 😉

If you’re new here, it’s great to have you! Link up and share you latest DIY, crafts, recipes, home projects and more! Be sure to check out the other projects linked up too! When you link up to this party, you will automatically be seen on three other blogs, how awesome is that?! Each week we all feature our own favorites, so be sure to visit the other ladies to see if you were featured!

You can check out my features here!

I’m sooo excited to start decorating for Fall! Have you started yet?

Here’s what I’ve been up to this week:

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Let’s party!!

{ Country Living Fair Columbus }

September 2, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: antiques, Columbus, Country Living, Country Living Fair, country living magazine, free tickets, magazine, vendors 5 Comments

Are you a magazine reader? If so, you’re probably familiar with Country Living Magazine, one of my all time favorites! I received an exciting email this week inviting me to attend the Country Living Fair here in Columbus the weekend of September 13-15. And today I’m super excited to have the chance to give one of my lucky, LOCAL viewers away a FREE set (2) of tickets for the weekend!!

You can read full Fair details here!

The weekend will be filled with great shopping, good food and even a meet and greet with the editors!!
I hope to see YOU there! Good luck 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay connected with Country Living:

Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

{ Cherished Memory Boxes }

September 2, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: children, diy, kids, kids craft, kids project, memories, memory boxes, saving memories 9 Comments

More often than not, I’m saving little doodles, projects, jotting memories and more of my little ones! I would use two drawers in my kitchen to keep the stuff, but it was getting out of control! Does this sound familiar? If so listen up!

I ran into these adorable kraft style photo boxes on sale at Michaels for $1.50 each! I should’ve grabbed a bunch, unfortunately I only grabbed two for this project! Once I was home I personalized the boxes with each childs name with stickers I already had (from Target dollar spot!) You could decorate the boxes with their favorite colors using wrapping or scrapbook paper or even have the little ones draw a picture on the boxes!

Include all those special memories you don’t want to forget in that little box! I have things like school projects, school pictures, ticket and movie stubs, first haircuts, party invites, etc! I’m looking forward to adding more and more as they grow! I’m sure I’ll end up with a few of these, but it will be so fun to look back when they’re older!

Sharing this project on these fantastic blogs!

{ Fab Pins of the Week }

August 30, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: burlap, burlap and lace, fab pins of the week, fall, fall decor, home, home decor, lace, Pinterest Leave a Comment

Happy Friday ♥ ♥

Summer is slowly coming to an end, and Fall is sneaking up!

I have to admit, I’m pretty excited about that! Fall is my favorite time of the year!

With that said, I’ve been taken over by the Fall itch and sharing some of my inspiration this week!

When do you start thinking about Fall decorating? Do you have the Fall itch too? (wink!)

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1. I adore the rustic glamour of this room! It feels very comfy and inviting! The mirrored headboards bring the bed alive, but the addition of the burlap pillow shams is what drew me in! I love white linens on a bed… The burlap gives it that warm, comforting touch!

2. I’m really loving this simple DIY project! I’m pretty sure it’s something just about anyone could do! This would be the perfect touch to add to my Fall mantel or even hanging in my formal dining room! Head over to Love of Family & Home for the full tutorial!

3. Looks like the perfect Fall table setting to me! For Thanksgiving, perhaps?! You could easily create this personalized silverware holder by either sewing the sides into place or even using a dab of fabric glue! I love the way burlap and lace look together!

4. Love, love, love this chandelier!! Head over and see how Amanda from Burlap & Denim creates this beauty! I love creating custom lighting because it’s something everyone notices and you can enjoy it daily!! I have an exciting project coming up I can’t wait to share 🙂

Please be sure to visit the source links I have provided to give credit to the original sites!

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{ Blueberry Tart }

August 29, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: blueberries, blueberry, blueberry tart, dessert, easy dessert, Greek yogurt, healthy dessert 4 Comments

I’m a total sucker for sweets! I love to satisfy my sweet tooth without all those added fat grams and calories. Today I’m going to share with you a delicious, easy blueberry tart!

Here’s what you’re going to need:

1 roll of pre-made pie crust
2 pints of blueberries
1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt
3 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon brown sugar
dash of cinnamon and nutmeg

Begin by unrolling your pre-made pie crust and pushing into a pie plate, covering the edges with foil and forking the inside bottom a few times and baking at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool. In a saucepan on medium to low heat, add blueberries, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mash the blueberries and add a little water to create more of a syrup consistency. Once fragrant, remove from heat and add 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, mix well. Add the mixture to the pie crust, fold over the foiled edges and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool before serving and top with a dollop of fat free whipped cream!

Delish!!

Sharing this project on these fab blogs!