Home Decor!

Decorating with things you already have!

Frugal Decorating 

Ok, so if you know me personally you know I am pretty frugal! I love bargains! I don't do extreme couponing although, it's just too time consuming. I guess I am frugal when it comes to home decor items and clothing (for myself lol)

Well, today I got a little burst of energy to decorate some more of our house since I will be hosting a Stella & Dot jewelry trunk show next weekend. Well I am here today to show you how to save some money but still get a cozy-home decor!

I am all about pictures! I LOVE them! I have them all over the place. I am not afraid to have them everywhere either! So when we took our Christmas pictures I didn't order prints through the photographer because I had tons of Shutterfly coupons! I am officially OBSESSED with Shutterfly!

Here is the canvas set I ordered of our Christmas pictures to put above the couch! I had been wanting to do something like this for a while but wanting to wait until I got the right pictures and price!

These canvases, I think, are the best quality and prices! Here was my Price Break-Down!

Original Price for canvas set (includes: 3-8x10 and 1-24x36)

$329.96 - Before Shipping!

BUT! They do free shipping on orders $39.00 and over with promo code: SHIP39

Then, I had received a 35% off coupon in a package (can't remember from where!)

To make it even better, with my last Shutterfly order (I ordered just prints) they put a coupon in my package for a free gift! I got to choose between a few different things, I believer they were a mug, calendar, a 16x20 print and then something else. I chose a 16x20 print (which I have yet to hang up)

Anyways! So all that I only paid $214.30

Savings of $166.97!!! 

Ok now for my staircase! I had been looking for staircase decor since we moved into this house on Pinterest. At first I was just going to do a simple photo line on a diagonal, well then I forgot about our window at the top. I think started seeing alot of collage type walls and fell in love! Here's the picture and I will let you know prices after:)

Both S's are from Hobby Lobby - Which I have had both for well over a year so I cannot remember pricing but I know they were on sale when I purchased them!

All prints were also done at Shutterfly! (Paid $29.96 - Got 40% off - Had a savings of $11.96)

The 4 bottom frames are all from Ross Dress for Less - the 11x14 fames were $6.99 the 8x10 frames I had gotten like a year ago so I can't remember the prices but probably around the same.

I got the middle pallet-looking sign on Etsy from MyLydia for $40.00 plus shipping - although again, I have had that sign for about a year and a half!

The red sign above that reads "All Because Two People Fell in Love" again from Hobby Lobby! I also have had that for about a year or so.

The frame above that is also a Hobby Lobby - Which their frames are almost always 50% off! Which I have had forever! 

Now for our bedroom! I threw this together in minutes!

Ok a little back story, my husband had started building us a bed frame about 3 years ago! He was having to use my uncles tools and never finished, we moved from my mom's to a rent house, was trying to have it ready for there, well then we moved to my in-laws and had to put our bed in storage, so didn't work on it. When we moved into our own apartment he finally finished it but had to go back to work before getting it stained to put in our room. We finally moved into our current house and was able to stain the bed frame... Wellllll, long story short, the stain was the wrong color, decided to paint it, that was taking forever, we left it to dry and then all of a sudden a month passed and still wasn't done. This is when I accidentally knocked it over and broke it (oops!) My hubby wasn't happy! So I needed a plan b! Which was this!

OK! For prices and where to buy!

Our comforter I got, I believe, at Home Goods or Marshall's for like $60.00!

The little throw pillow is actually our old couch pillow with a cover on it from an Etsy shop called CastawayCoveDecor - I got the Pick Two for $28.00 plus shipping in the SpaBlue colors

The shutters I was iffy about but am begingin to LOVE them! These were actually left by the previous home owner and are just plastic ones but work perfect! Here a similar ones: BuildersEdge

They come in a pack of two!

The canvas prints are from Marshall's also which were $24.99 for both!

Lastly, the blinds (which have been up for a while) were a splurge from Home Depot

That's it for now! :) When I do our sunroom and office, I'll be sure to post it every step of the way! :)

<3 l.s.

Free Watercolor Backgrounds/Digital Paper

FREE!

Who doesn't want something that is free?

Since these are my first digital paper's I have made I would like to offer them to anyone for free!

Just right click and save as! Or e-mail me southernarrowdesigns@gmail.com for different sizes!

These are both 12inx12in!

Enjoy :)

*Terms of Use below*

*Can be used for personal use or commercial. No recreating or selling products*

Pumpkin Seeds!

Pumpkin Seed Recipe

You can't carve a pumpkin without making the seeds :)

Ok! What got me to cook the seeds is of course, tradition! My momma cooked the seeds of our pumpkins, I believe, every year! At least that,s how I remember it!

So this year I decided I was just carving 1 pumpkin. My daughter's first Halloween she was only 4 months old but we carved one anyways for her.  So we had 3 pumpkins (pictures below), one for me, my husband and daughter. I made the seeds out of all of them and of course were yummy (but made them slightly different)

Well then last year my husband decided he didn't want to carve one because they were too messy and just a pain. So I carved one for myself and one for my daughter (who was 1 at the time). I went all out by carving a Minnie Mouse (pictures below) into hers because she was obsessed! Boy was a over it half way through. I was so tired of pumpkins by the end of it I didn't even cook the seeds, I said "forget it!".

Now, this year, my husband was away at work so I decided I would carve 1 for the house and then let me daughter paint one since she's old enough to understand that kind of stuff! (Pictures below!)

Ok now enough about dang pumpkin carving and to the seed recipe!!

Once I got all the gook and "yuckies" (as I called it while talking to my daughter) out of the seeds, I had to Google some recipies. I couldn't quite remember how long they were supposed to cook so I once I figure that out I took to my spice rack!

(NOTE:I eyeballed all my measurments so these are estimations of how much I used. Use as much as you think would be good!)

I got about 1cup of seeds from our 1 pumpkin, so here's the recipe!

Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit 

Then, I coated the seeds in EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). This was probably about 2 tbsp.

I did about

1-2 tbsp of Garlic Powder

and

1 tbsp of Jess Halls Serendipity Season Salt - which can only be purchased at that link or in Weatherford, Tx (That's a story for another day!)

The salt to taste!

Mix it all up

I baked my 1 cup for about 40 minutes, I like for them to be crispy and crunchy! The recipe I referred to on Google said 45 minutes but they could've been ready at 30 minutes, if I didn't want them to be extra crispy!

And that's it! Super easy! I stored them in a Tupperware container, they will probably be good for just a week or so! Good little, some what healthy, snack to munch on!

Thanks

Y'all!

:)

l.s.

Favorite Cursive Fonts!

Cursive Fonts!

These are my favorite go-to cursive fonts when making invitations!

Links:

Carolyna Pro Black | Frosting for Breakfast | Janda Stylish Script

Wishes Script | Black Olives | Janda Elegant | KG Only Human | Liorah BT

Enjoy :)

Visit my shop on Etsy!

New Name, Same Awesome Designs!

Southern Arrow Designs!

E-mail me at southardpublications@gmail.com

for custom work!

<3 xoxo l.s. <3

Fall Free Printables!

Happy Fall Y'all!

So I know I haven't posted in a few months! I have been crazy busy! 2 weddings back to back! One in which was my baby sisters and I was the maid of honor!! So 2 weeks of family in town (since majority are from out of state!) can wear one down! My house is still not in complete order! (Her wedding was August 16!)

Anyways! My daughter is starting in a Mother's Day Out program which is here at a local church! She goes 2 days a week from 9am-3pm! Woah! What am I going to do with all that time!?

Well... of course invitations! Lol! But I want to try to work more on my printables! I see so many on Pinterest! I feel like it's a great way to show case my work and get my name out! And it being free draws people in! 

Then I want to try to blog more! We are still slowly moving into our new home. With her at school 2 days a week I can finally start on some of my DIY projects I've been wanting to do! So hopefully, I can start blogging about how that progress is going!

Another project I want to start working on is flyers!! A friend of a friend works at the Omni here in Corpus Christi and she came to me looking for someone to do their flyers! It would be a great opportunity if they would sign me on! I have never done a flyer before! I had to look on Pinterest for some inspiration! But before I knew it I had to flyer done and got it sent to her! I hope she and her co-workers love it!!

Anyways here are some fall free printables!

(and one teacher label printable!) :)

See You Soon! :)

xoxo Lauren

Summer Country Playlist!

My Favorite Country Songs This Summer!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE country music! Well music in general. Living in South Texas it is very easy to get hooked onto all the new and old country! Although this list has some non-country songs. But if y'all are looking for some good playlist to jam to at the beach, lake, river, pool or wherever you're headed this summer!

All links are the links to a YouTube video for that song!

Here they are :)

Beachin' - Jake Owen (Which happens to be my ringtone at the moment!)

Drunk on a Plane - Dierks Bentley

Found a Heart - Emily Hearn

Platinum - Miranda Lambert

Somethin' Bad - Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood

I Got a Car - The King (George Strait)

Meanwhile Back at Momma's - Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill

My Eyes - Blake Shelton

Play it Again - Luke Bryan

Proud - Cody Johnson Band
Baby's Blue - Cody Johnson Band
Me and My Kind - Cody Johnson Band

This is How We Roll - Florida Georgia Line ft. Luke Bryan

The Cowboy Kind - Curtis Grimes

River Bank - Brad Paisley

Ready, Set, Roll - Chase Rice

That's about it for now :) I will continue to add more as I begin to love them :)






*note* - I do not own any of these photos or YouTube videos. All came from Google or YouTube.

Favorite Free Fonts!

My Top 10 Go-To Favorite Free Fonts!

If you were to look at my font list on my computer your jaw would drop! I have close to 900 fonts! Yes 900! That every time I start an invitation, business card, save the date, whatever it may be; I have to search through to find the perfect font for the right style and theme I am trying to go for! Which usually results in me downloading MORE fonts! 

My favorite site for fonts is DaFont.com! They have the best free fonts! They are also super easy to download, no needing to restart the computer or anything! Although when I cannot find what I am looking for I result to no other than.. PINTEREST! lol.. A lot of blogs post their favorite fonts for different styles and links to each font. So I figured I would do the same to help you out! Here we go!

Here they are! :)

Links to each font. I do not own any of these fonts. All credit for each font goes to the creator of that font :)

KG Strawberry Limeade

Sophisticard Slims

Lavanderia

Janda Stylish Script

Znikomit

Carolyna

Ma Sexy

Foglihten

Harabara Hand

Champagne & Limousines

Font For Heading

Seriously

Font for Footing

Cuddles

Hope You Enjoy :)

-The Southard Belle

Food Post!!

Salisbury Steak or Hamburger Steak (whatever you call it!)

I figured I need another food post! So today I will have the recipe for my go-to dinner!! Super easy and quick!!

So for this you will need the following:

1lb ground beef

Half Onion (unless you like more) - Diced

Half Green Pepper (unless you like more) - Diced

Garlic Powder - to taste

1 egg

About 1/4 cup - 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs (just depends on consistency of the meat)

Worcestershire Sauce

Salt

Pepper

(to taste!)

1 can cream of mushroom (or cream of chicken, doesn't matter!)

1 can french onion soup

1 packet brown gravy mix

White Rice or mashed potatoes!

Easy-Peasy Instructions!

Make patties. I usually get 4 patties from 1lb of beef. For this you add the onion, green pepper, garlic powder, egg, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. And any other spices you'd like to make your own!

Brown the patties on each side for just about 3 minutes, DO NOT cook them all the way.

Take the patties out but leave in the grease/oil in the pan. Add in your french onion soup, cream of mushroom, and brown gravy mix! Wisk these until no more clumps!

Add back in the patties and cover the patties in the gravy. Cover and let cook until patties are thoroughly cooked!

Serve over white rice or mashed taters!!

Hope you enjoy :)

I am sorry I don't have more pics, I didn't take any last time I made it! I will have to post some later on :)

<3 - The Southard Belle

LATE: 4TH OF JULY FREE PRINTABLES!!

4th Of July Free Printables!

Sorry I am late! Been a crazyyy week!!

We have finally moved into a new house - ON THE LAKE!! (and loving it!!)

So this 4th of July we threw a Housewarming party! I spent all week cleaning and getting the house (somewhat) presentable for the party!

It was a success! I mean who wouldn't want to spend the 4th on a lake? Drinking beer? Eating hot dogs? AND watching fireworks??!!

Well anyways back to the reason of this post!! My free printables! I will start to post free printables between 1-3 (maybe more) a week!! They will also be on our Pinterest and Facebook! I will eventually put them for sale on Etsy (but only for 2 cents, since that is the lowest a listing can be!)

I am still new to this whole blog, obviously I don't post often! But really want to make a conscious effort to!!

Below are the printables :) Hope you love them!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND YOU ALL!!

HOPE YOU HAD AN AMAZING FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND!

<3 THE SOUTHARD BELLE

CHALKBOARDS!!

I have come to love making chalkboard invitations and such! 

I love the causal feel to them! And it's fun finding new fonts and colors that go well together!!

My biggest type is to find fonts that already look handwritten or chalkboard like! (See previous post for list of chalkboard fonts) 

I use www.dafont.com for all my fonts! They have the biggest selection of free ones! 

It's always good to mix and match fonts! Gives it some life. Mix cursive with sans serif of big bold fonts with hand written ones. 

Always try to stick to using light pastel colors! They look more natural! 

When adding a picture to a chalkboard background I recommend using a feathered effect because it takes away the sharp edges allowing it to look almost as if someone colored it onto the board. Or of course you could use a frame and maybe give it a drop shadow effect to make it look like it's hanging on the board!

Check out my Etsy shop for some of my chalkboard listings! :)

Www.etsy.com/shop/southardpublications

Tonight's Menu!

Chicken Ranch Tacos!!

Tonight I am gonna make some Chicken Ranch Tacos! Mmmm

I found this on Pinterest a while back and it was yummy! We had leftovers so made chicken ranch quesadillas the next night!!

All you need is:

Chicken (I cook mine then shred it, I've never bought canned chicken)

One packet of taco seasoning(can be chicken or beef)

Ranch dressing

Taco shells (we like soft flour ones)

And cheese, and whatever other toppings!

I make the Spanish rice Rice Sides brand to go with it!

Simplest thing to make!

Put shredded cooked chicken in skillet with taco seasoning (as directed on package) and as much ranch as you would like. I probably do about 1/2 to 1 cup of ranch! Let it simmer and heat up! While that's going just heat up some tortillas (or your taco shells). I also add some ranch dressing on top of my taco!

 I do the rice in the microwave for 15 min.

Wah La! Gotcha self a meal in less than 30 min! 

Enjoy :) 

Free Chalkboard Fonts :)

Here are a list of all the chalkboard fonts I use for my invitations! :)

All can be found on DaFont!

Find us on Etsy, Facebook & Instagram :)
SouthardPublications