Simple Twig & Floral Wreath {D.I.Y}

One of my favorite quick do it yourself projects for my home is creating wreaths for our front entrance. I typically have one for every holiday and a few for the months in between. I've always found wreath making to be fairly simple and inexpensive. The wreaths I make are usually very uncomplicated and something I think just about anyone can do with the right materials and a little bit of time (and sometimes practice). 

This wreath is one of my "go to" wreaths. It has minimal materials and the steps involved are simple. It only took me about 10 minutes to assemble this wreath and for total materials I believe I spent around $15.

Materials you will need (all materials featured were purchased at Hobby Lobby):

* 1 Twig/Vine wreath, size medium 

* 1 Spool of burlap wired ribbon (mine has a slight gold sparkle to it, I found it near the wire wreaths in the craft section).

* 2 Large floral stems of your choice (I opted for two large hydrangeas in a muted green tone)

* Floral wire

-Step 1 : The first thing I did was wrap my ribbon tightly around my wreath. I wasn't too particular in this step. I just kind of went at a diagonal and wound around until I had completed the circle. I tied the end piece into the twigs to secure it. I just made sure to do this on the backside where it is not visible.

-Step 2 : Next I created a burlap bow for the top of my wreath. I tied my bow under the ribbon that I had already wound around the wreath to secure it. You can also use floral wire to secure your bow to your wreath. My bow was just a very basic bow as you can see. Nothing fancy.

-Step 3 : I snipped my floral stems a few inches back from the flower using regular scissors (you can also use wire cutters but I found it wasn't necessary this time). I then tucked my stems into the wreath on the lower left corner. I made sure they were well hidden behind the burlap and tucked nicely into the twigs. I find that usually just tucking and threading that stem can be enough to secure the flowers but if you feel that they may come loose this is when you will want to use your floral wire. Snip a tiny bit of wire and use it to wrap the stem into the twig wreath for extra security. Just make sure to conceal the wire so it isn't visible. 

-Step 4 : I cut a few leafs from my stems and arranged them into my wreath as you can see. I just arranged them how I thought they looked best. Again, you can secure them with floral wire if you feel that is necessary. My wreath hangs on a covered porch and it doesn't get moved very much so I did not use the floral wire this time. The stems and leaves felt secure on their own.

That is ALL! Stand back and admire your pretty new wreath! This wreath is SO incredibly simple. You can use any ribbon or floral stems that you prefer for a wide variety of looks. This is my "go to" quick wreath that I use when I want to quickly change it up and spruce up my front door. 

Happy wreath making!

* I am linking up this post for the Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop via House of Rose. Check it out! *

Pregnancy & Sleep {Snoogle Review}

It took me not one, not two, but THREE pregnancies before I finally decided to break down and buy a pregnancy body pillow. After countless nights of waking every few minutes it seemed, I knew I needed to do something to get a better nights sleep. As soon as I hit second trimester this time around my lower back began to ache constantly and I started to have neck pain that I hadn't experienced before. I knew that my growing bump needed extra support and I was positive I needed to get some sleep, and fast.

My husband took notice of my discomfort and one evening came in after work carrying a brand new maternity support pillow. Unfortunately that pillow came in three parts that used Velcro to attach to one another, and lets just say, it was not exactly the most comfortable thing I had ever encountered. So back to the store it went and I quickly got my hands on the Leachco Snoogle. 

It was love at first sight (or snuggle rather) with this pillow. The fabric of the cover is extremely soft and comfortable, and the pillow its self it so full and cozy. I am a TOUGH person to please when it comes to getting comfortable during sleep and I was amazed at how quickly I fell in love with this pillow. It is the perfect length for me (I am 5'3), and I am able to wrap it almost entirely around my body. There is enough pillow for me to easily use it under my head, between my legs to support my hips, and around my back for additional support. I use this pillow two ways. 

(see photo below)

See how peaceful she looks? Totally accurate.

I have used this pillow every single night since the night I brought it home. I am certain I'll continue to use it after pregnancy as well. As someone who typically gets just about the worst nights sleep one can get, I have grown to truly appreciate and value this pillow. And the best part? My back has been hurting less (although only slightly, but I'll take what I can get at this point). 

Do you have the Leachco Snoogle? What are your thoughts?

*Please note: the views expressed in the post are solely my own. I have not been compensated in anyway by the company in the above mentioned post. Thank you.

What Mom Likes is now on Bloglovin!

What Mom Likes is now on Bloglovin! Please follow along so that you can receive updates on future posts! Thank you so much.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Surviving Pregnancy In Summer

I'm on my third pregnancy and once again I will be hitting my largest during the hottest parts of the year. Summer in the South can be excruciatingly hot and being pregnant it is especially important to take care of yourself and your little one during that time. Besides the obvious "stay inside, push fluids", there are a few things that always help me through those hot months! I thought I'd share some of my summer "must haves" for pregnancy. 

1. Maternity Capris/Cropped pants -

I am never very comfortable in the warmer months wearing full length pants, and especially not when pregnant. I also have a hard time finding maternity shorts that are comfortable and well fitted. I've found that capris and cropped pants are so much easier to find, and although still somewhat long, that little bit of length cut off makes a huge difference. I usually pair these with flip flops and a comfortable tank or sleeveless top. It helps tremendously in beating the heat!

(Cropped jeans pictured are from Motherhood Maternity)

2. Maternity Swim Suit- 

One great way to get through those hot summer days is by going for a swim. It feels absolutely amazing for those painful joints and muscles, and it is such a great way for you and baby to cool off quickly. I like tankinis because (for me) they are more comfortable getting on and off, and there are usually quite a few styles available that can work for most any body type.

(Bathing suit pictured is from Old Navy Maternity)

3. Maternity Nightgown-

I really appreciate comfort during pregnancy (is it obvious yet?), and there is nothing like a soft nightgown to make sleep more soothing (assuming you're still able to sleep at that point). When the days are extremely hot, the nights typically are as well and I try my best to keep clothing as light as possible for nighttime. This particular gown is perfect for pregnancy and postpartum wear.

(Nightgown from Motherhood Maternity)

4. Maternity Maxi Dress-

Dresses can be an excellent way to manage the summer heat. I am a big fan of the maternity maxi trend because they are typically very comfortable and can work for a variety of occasions. When pants are just no longer comfortable, dresses can be a great escape. I like maxi dresses in particular because I feel more comfortable in them once my ankles and legs swell during the final weeks/months. It is nice to be able to conceal that and still feel confident and comfortable.

(Dress pictured is from Old Navy Maternity)

5. Comfortable Flip Flops/Footwear-

I saved this for last but honestly I feel as though this may be the most important item on my list. For me, it is absolutely crucial to have comfortable footwear during pregnancy, particularly during the summer months. The more support you have under your soles, the better. It helps tremendously with back pain and ankle swelling/pain. It has taken me a long time to find flip flops that I felt were comfortable enough for everyday wear during pregnancy. These Sanuk flip flops have yoga mat soles and are absolutely heavenly. My back aches so much less when I wear these, and the squishy soles are much more comfortable than any other pair I have tried. For me, these are a MUST.

(Flip flops - Sanuk)

So there you have it! These are my maternity "musts" for pregnancy in the summer!

What are your "musts"?

*Please note: the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own. I was not compensated in any way by the above mentioned companies. Thank you.

Welcome!

Welcome to What Mom Likes. I created this blog as a way to share the things that I enjoy as a mother. You will find a wide variety of my "likes" here. Everything from baby gear to recipes, or projects that you can do at home. 

A little more about the blogger behind the blog:

I am a mother to two children (with one on the way) all under the age of 4, they keep me busy and I am incredibly thankful for them. I enjoy blogging and have been doing so for several years. This is my first venture into this type of blogging and I am excited to see where it takes me. I enjoy photography, spending time outdoors, testing my culinary skills (always a work in progress there), and working on projects around our home. I really enjoy transforming a space and seeing an idea come to life. 

I am so glad that you stopped by, and I hope that you enjoy reading "What Mom Likes". 

- Shannon