Fotini, Author at Farmhouse Chic Blog

{ Great offer from GlassesUSA.com! }

September 9, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: calvin klein glasses, eyeglasses, fashion statement, glasses, GlassesUSA.com, great deal 2 Comments

Do you wear glasses? I’m one of the many who wear eyeglasses, and I love it! I don’t wear them all the time, but when I do I like to accessorize them with my outfits! I feel like it gives me character, and I think of them more as a fashion statement (that helps me see better!). My newest pair are Calvin Klein brand, in tortoise. I decided to go out of my comfort zone, of small specs, to a medium lens, and I love them!

I have a great offer for you guys today, from GlassesUSA.com! They are offering 15% off your entire order amount plus free shipping (orders over $50), use code: FS15. And just for my readers, take 10% off any order of prescription glasses, use code: Blog10.

GlassesUSA.com offers a great way to buy your eye glasses online using a virtual mirror! How fun is this?! Simply select your gender, upload your picture, and have fun playing around with different styles of glasses!

To order glasses online, be sure to checkout GlassesUsa.com! Also, be sure to follower them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest offers!

What do you guys think of me rockin’ out my new glasses, below?!

{ Feels good to be back!! }

September 9, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: family vacation, great vacation, hilton head 3 Comments

Well, after a week-long, relaxing vacation in Hilton Head, we’re back home! And I can’t wait to get back to blogging, I’ve missed it! We are so glad to be home 🙂 We really missed our house, and Lola!

The kids did amazing on vaca, and we had a great time with family! I can’t wait to share some pictures later this week 🙂

Here’s a few from the beginning of our trip….

{ Why I Love Blogging… }

September 1, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: blog love, bloggers, Liebster award, support 10 Comments

I love my followers, and love getting comments, but getting this comment tonight from Pretty in Place, made my whole week! She told me she featured me for an award… This isn’t just any award, this is such a sincere show of support!

The Liebster Award is for blogs that have 200 followers or less. The word “Liebster” is German for kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, valued, cute, pleasant, endearing and welcome.

I love it!

Here are the rules for accepting the award:

1. Each person most post 11 things about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the people you tag with the award.

3. Chose 11 bloggers (with less then 200 followers) and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them about the award (social networks accepted).

5. If you have not done so already, follow the tagger and visit at least three nominees. Spread the love!

6. And remember, no tag backs!

ONE: 11 Things you don’t know about me.

1. My name, Fotini, is Greek and means “bright- light”! I was named after my Yiayia (grandmother) on my Dads side. When I was young I didn’t like my name because it was hard for people to pronounce and so different, now I love it!

2. I love getting into bed with cold sheets! So comfy 😉

3. I graduated Nursing school in 2008, but have never worked as a nurse. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to stay at home with my babies!

4. I created this blog while preparing for my wedding in October 2009. It’s been such a blessing in my life!

5. I have a super soft- spot for animals. I love them, (almost) all of them! But I really love dogs! We have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Lola 🙂

6. I’d rather text than talk on the phone, is that bad?!

7. I adore pictures!

8. I know very little, Spanish, French and Greek! Hey, it’s better than knowing nothing at all, right??!

9. Fall is my favoriteseason! I love everything about it 🙂

10. I’m a huge sweets person! I have to have something sweet at least once a day…

11. My husband is my best friend! He is the cream to my coffee 🙂

TWO: Answers

1. If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be and why? I know a lot of you might think I’m crazy, but, Kim Kardashian. I find her oddly intriguing and I think she’s gorgeous!

2. Favorite childhood memory? Going on family vacations to Myrtle Beach with my grandparents!

3. If you could choose 3 words to describe you, what would they be? Honest, trustworthy and optimistic 🙂

4. Would you rather live in a small apartment in a big city or a large home out in the country? Def. large home out in the country. The country is where I wanna be!

5. What would your dream job be? Stylist.. Getting paid to shop, what could be better?!!

6. Dogs or cats? Dogs, all the way 😉

7. What is your all time favorite movie? Clueless, I know, kinda lame, but it takes me back to my childhood!

8. Staying in or going out? Staying in, I couldn’t find any better company to have, than my hubby and kids.

9. Flats or heels? Flats.. I try heels, just doesn’t last long.

10. If your house were on fire and you could only grab 3 things, what would they be? Kids, phone, dog.

11. What snacks would you bring on a road trip? coffee, cinnamon poptarts, spearmint gum.

THREE: 11 Questions for the winners.

1. What is your favorite season, and why?

2. Would you rather travel to Hawaii or Italy, why?

3. Favorite quote or saying:

4. Do you prefer long hair or short?

5. If you were given one million dollars, how would you spend it?

6. What is your decorating style?

7. Are you a reader? If so, what’s the latest book you read?

8. Favorite flavor of ice cream:

9. What is something you want to accomplish within the next six months?

10. Do blondes really have more fun?!

11. What’s your favorite vacation spot?

FOUR: Winners! Go check them out!

Adorned from Above

Adventures of Brad & Kendra

My {Not So} Glamorous Life

Let’s keep it going girls!!

{ Pantry Accessories and a Yummy Recipe }

August 30, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: dollar corner, organzing, pantry accessories, puppy chow, recipe-1, recipes, sweet treat, Target 18 Comments

I just can’t stay away from the dollar corner at Target, it’s dangerous, haha! Today I got six small natural box crates for my pantry $1 each, alphabet stamps $1 and alphabet stickers $1. I have lots of odds and ends in my pantry floating around, so I figured these little storage containers would be perfect! I already had stamp ink at home in silver, so I stamped each container depending on its’ contents. So far I have, candy, oatmeal, and misc. I have three leftover for when I organize my pantry ( I plan on doing this soon!!). Here’s how it looks!

Speaking of dangerous, here’s a recipe I remember so well from my childhood… Puppy chow. My Nana used to make it in the summer’s for us to munch on, and I haven’t had it since. I had all the ingredients for it, so I got the urge to give it a try!

Here’s what you’ll need:

9 cups rice cereal (Chex)
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips ( I used 3 Hersey’s bars because that’s what I had!)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
large gallon zip-lock bag

Start off by adding the butter, peanut butter and chocolate to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for one minute. Once melted, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and mix well. Add your 9 cups of rice cereal to the mixture and stir until cereal is completely coated. Put your 3 cups of powdered sugar in a gallon zip-lock bag, add cereal mixture, and shake, shake, shake!! That’s it….Tastes just like I remember, yummy!

{ My $3 Fall Wreath }

August 28, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: burlap bow, cheap project, diy fall wreath, diy project, dollar store, dollar tree, fall wreath 29 Comments

I posted some absolutely gorgeous Fall wreaths yesterday. With those in mind, I headed to the Dollar Tree. I know, sounds cheap, and it was. I got the supplies for this project for $3 and have extras leftover for another small project! Can’t beat that… This was my first time making a wreath, so I didn’t want to put too much money incase it didn’t work out! I was pleasantly surprised with the Fall selection that the dollar store had. Lots of goodies, so it wasn’t hard for me to find what I was going to use.

Here’s what I got:

Pre-made branch wreath in dark brown ,$1
Maroon and cream mums, each bundle, $1

Grab your glue gun and scissors. While your glue gun is heating up, play around with the design and placement of your flowers. I pulled the flower heads right off the stems, no mess! I glued the first cream flower, and surronded it with two additional cream flowers to give it a fuller look. I then surronded these with a maroon flower on each side. I ended up doing this three other times around the wreath, for four different bunches on the wreath.

I took some extra burlap I already had from another project, cut it into 4 strips. One of the strips would be used as the wreath ribbon. Grab two pieces of the additional burplap and make two loops, arrange one facing up and the other facing down. Grab your last piece of burlap and wrap it in the center, tie it in the back and now you have a bow! Glue your bow to the top of your burlap ribbon. I added a twisty-tie I had and made it into a loop and glued it to the back of the bow. This will allow it to hang on my door hook!

You’re all done!! You can play around with this project, the possibilties are endless! I’m pretty happy with how my first one turned out, and I will be making another one real soon!

Sharing this project on these crafty sites! Thank you for hosting ladies, have a great week!

{ Fabulous Fall Wreaths }

August 27, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: blog love, diy, diy project, fall, fall wreaths, front door decor 18 Comments

This week I will be making a fabulous Fall wreath, I can’t wait to share! I love wreaths.. They dress up the front of your house, and set an impression before your guests even walk into your home! Your possibilities can be truly endless, so have fun and make your front door look fabulous!

Let me just tell you, if you are even some-what crafty, try making your own wreath, you may surprise yourself! Buying wreaths at the store pre-made can be costly! And you can make something just as beautiful at home, for a fraction of the cost!

Here is where I’m getting my inspiration for Fall wreaths this week, enjoy!

Made In A Day

Shanty 2 Chic

Every Creative Endeavor

Keeping up with the times

Craftberry Bush

Be different act normal

Better Homes and Gardens

{ Darling, Felt Headbands }

August 23, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: diy, diy projects, felt headbands, flower headbands, Pinterest 38 Comments

Can I just say, I love crafting!! I love when I have a fab idea, or come across something I can’t wait to make! I love making things for my kids to wear.. I’m already a super proud Momma, but I love to see my kids wearing things I’ve made 🙂

This week, I came across a wonderfully- detailed tutorial for making felt flower headbands on, shad and lizzie blog! I literally couldn’t wait to head to Jo Ann’s and get the supplies! This really couldn’t be simpler! Here’s what you’re going to need:

Pre-cut pieces of felt in desired color(s)
Elastic ribbon, also in desired color(s)
Scissors
Glue gun
Paper and marker

Jo Ann’s offers pre-cut felt in the craft section, in a variety of colors, and only .34 cents a sheet. One sheet is enough for two headbands! I chose silver grey and tan. In the same section of the store, they have pre-cut elastic ribbon as well. I ended up getting my elastic ribbon from the fabric isle and cut at the counter because I wanted a thinner, white elastic. For this project I only got one yard. That was also enough for two headbands!

Once you’re home, grab a sheet of paper and trace a simple flower design and cut out. This will be your stencil. Trace your stencil with marker five times onto your felt. Cut out each flower. Grab your, already heated glue gun and place a dot in the center of your flower, fold over and press down. Repeat this step for FOUR of your flowers. Save one flower for the end.

Take one folded flower piece and put a dot of glue on the folded edge and place another folded flower in the opposite direction. Alternate for the remaining two flowers. So it will look like this (below).

Grab your last flower and put a glue dot in the middle of the flower and twist the center. This will be the center of your flower. Hold in place until glue has dried and glue to the center of previous flower pieces. Lightly pull felt for desired “look”. You’re almost done!

Grab your elastic ribbon and measure to 12.5 inches for newborn to 3 months and 13 inches for 3 months and older. Put a small dot of glue on one end and overlap about 1/4 of an inch, press down. Cut a circle with the remaining felt from earlier. Place your flower on the front side of the elastic over the seam and glue into place. Glue your circle of felt on the back of the elastic seam.

You’re finished!! I hope that wasn’t too confusing for you to understand! I can’t wait to make more of these 🙂 I will be making these as gifts too.. Soo stinkin’ cute 🙂

Sharing this project on these great linky parties! Thank you for hosting ladies!!

Featured on One Creative Roundup: Felt Food Edition

First Grade…

August 19, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: back to school, first grade, growing up 17 Comments

My little man starts first grade this Wednesday… Last week was a reality check for me, it all started to sink in… My little man is growing up! What a big adjustment for him, and me! His Kindergarten was only 3 hours last year, and first grade will be 7 hours. Not to mention how much he will change during that time… As a mother, how do you prepare yourself for this? He’s my first baby and I don’t want this precious time to slip by!

Let’s take a step back through memory lane..

One Year Old

Two Years Old

Three Years Old

Four Years Old

Five Years Old

Six Years Old

Monogrammed Canvas

August 15, 2012 by Fotini Filed Under: canvas, diy, diy project, little girls room, monogram, paint, pearls, pink, Pinterest 14 Comments

I have been taking it slow hanging things on the wall at our new house. As for Isabella’s room, the only thing she has hanging on her wall right now is her bow holder! I had a super cute name banner from her first birthday party, hanging above her crib and some how she ripped it down and tore it to shreds (ha!).

We were at Hobby Lobby yesterday and they had their two pack canvases for $5.99. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do with them but I knew I could do something fun! I bought two packs of scrap booking pearls in large and small. These are already sticky so it would cut out a step for sticking to the canvas! At this point, I had decided I wanted to write her initials with the pearls. Each pack was $2.99.

Once we were home, I wanted to spray paint the canvas pink. I already had Krylon’s Ballerina Slipper in Gloss. I made several even coats on the canvas, and let dry. I played around with so many different designs for this project. I used a beautiful stencil and tried to align the small pearls for the letter, it looked awful… I made a simple “I”, felt too plain… I added a small piece of burlap and added an “I”, didn’t like it… I don’t know what was coming over me, haha! I finally decided to embellish two of the sides with a short and long row of peals and paint her initials, which are ” IRV”. I had a sample of Valspar paint in a beige color. I started with the “R” in the middle of the canvas. I painted right over the stencil, and repeat for the remaining two letters. Once dry, I smudged a little bit of silver paint on the letters to give them a worn look. I put two small pearls between each letter, to act as a period for the initials.

I was happy with the end result, and it only took about an hour to complete!