Uncategorized – Page 12

On Trend: Pineapples

July 22, 2015

My favorite trend this summer has been Flamingos by far, however, pineapples are definitely my second favorite trend. I snagged a pineapple necklace a while back from one of my favorite Etsy shops and I wear it all the time! I love small accents of pineapple! I also happened upon some #LilyforTarget pineapple sandals one day which was super exciting! I included a couple of items for babies as well because I love dressing SR in pineapples. One of my favorite rompers that she owns is from H&M and is covered in pineapples which was my inspiration for this post.

Here are a few of my other pineapple favorites:

Scarf
Swimsuit
Bucketfeet Sneakers
Straws
Bangle
Ice Cube Tray
Headband
Pillow
Garland
Tumbler
Dope Tee
Onesie
Gray Tee
Shorts
Earrings
Monogrammed Sticker
Necklace
Banner

What are some of your favorite summer trends?

How To Clean Your Home In A Hurry

July 20, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #savewithbubbles #CollectiveBias

It is no secret that we are trying to sell our house. In fact, it has been on the market for 16 months and counting. Over the last month, we have shown it at least twice a week. People do not always give us a lot of notice which can be tough since we both work primarily from our house and we have two small children. During the day, our house gets pretty messy. My (almost) 21 month old is into everything. If there is a liquid that he can pour out all over the floor, he will do it. Over and over again.

The other day, we got a phone call that someone wanted to see our house in 20 minutes. We looked at each other in a panic. We quickly jumped up and performed the 3 tasks we always make sure to do before a showing:

1. We picked up all of our son’s toys and everything else laying out.

2. Vacuum

3. Clean the Bathrooms

I always make sure that our bathrooms are clean no matter how rushed we are. I know from experience that the last thing a buyer wants to see is a nasty bathroom when looking at a house. It would absolutely gross me out to stumble on a dirty bathroom.

I start by cleaning all of the surfaces including our counter, sinks, bathtub and shower with Scrubbing Bubbles® Multi Surface Bathroom Cleaner because it disinfects everything and leaves the room smelling fresh. I also found that I could save a lot of time by using the Scrubbing Bubbles® Toilet Cleaning Gel. All you have to do is stick a new gel in the toilet every 7 days and, since it is flush activated, just flush like normal and voila! The toilet is clean and fresh. It is time efficient and touch free!

We live really close to a brand new Dollar General and I love to stop in there about once a week to pick up my Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner and other supplies that we go through all too quickly. From July 7th – August 2nd, Dollar General will offer these coupons:

$0.50 off any Scrubbing Bubbles® Bath Product
$1 off any Scrubbing Bubbles® Toilet Gel Product
$0.50 off any Scrubbing Bubbles® All Purpose Cleaner

Check out these ways to make cleaning more fun with Scrubbing Bubbles®! Which is your favorite?

15 Ice Cream Recipes

July 17, 2015

With National Ice Cream Day being Sunday, I thought it would be fun to do a round up of my favorite dessert! I love ice cream so much…even in the winter. I know, I’m weird. I found a few of my favorite recipes from some of my favorite bloggers and put them all in one place for you guys! I hope you enjoy these recipes and try some of them this weekend. I know I will!

Homemade Ice Cream // Hall Around Texas
Peach and Vanilla Ice Cream // Whole Food Bellies
Triple Peanut Butter Ice Cream // Little Dove Creations
Sugar Cookie Ice Cream // Chocolate Covered Katie
Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter Ice Cream // CopyKat Recipes
No Churn Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream // Like Mother, Like Daughter
Toasted Almond Ice Cream // Little Dove Creations
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream // Spoonful of Flavor
Wine Ice Cream // My Big Fat Happy Life
Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream // A Happy Food Dance
Peach Ice Cream // The Dean’s List
Chai Chocolate Chip Ice Cream // Nourishing Simplicity
Cookie Dough Ice Cream // Nourishing Simplicity
Banana M&M’s Peanut Sundae // At Home With Sweet T
Java Chip Ice Cream // Oak and Oats
Lemonade Ice Cream // I Heart Naptime

What is your favorite flavor of Ice Cream?

Book Review: Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews

July 14, 2015

Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews
Published June 4th 2013 by St. Martin’s Press

Pages: 464

Synopsis from Goodreads: Grace Stanton’s life as a rising media star and beloved lifestyle blogger takes a surprising turn when she catches her husband cheating and torpedoes his pricey sports car straight into the family swimming pool. Grace suddenly finds herself locked out of her palatial home, checking account, and even the blog she has worked so hard to develop in her signature style. Moving in with her widowed mother, who owns and lives above a rundown beach bar called The Sandbox, is less than ideal. So is attending court-mandated weekly “divorce recovery” therapy sessions with three other women and one man for whom betrayal seems to be the only commonality. When their “divorce coach” starts to act suspiciously, they decide to start having their own Wednesday “Ladies’ Night” sessions at The Sandbox, and the unanticipated bonds that develop lead the members of the group to try and find closure in ways they never imagined. Can Grace figure out a new way home and discover how strong she needs to be to get there?

Heartache, humor, and a little bit of mystery come together in a story about life’s unpredictable twists and turns. Mary Kay Andrews’ Ladies’ Night will have you raising a glass and cheering these characters on.

My Thoughts: This was my first MKA book. I know, I know, I am SO behind on an amazing author. I have a couple of her other books on my shelf waiting to be read, so don’t worry, I’ll catch up. I’ll describe this book in a couple of words: Amazing and Intense. Never have I read a book that I was so hooked from the first page than this one. It made me so angry at times and laugh until I cried at other times. It will definitely tug on your feminist strings a little. Grace was very relatable because she is a blogger! I loved reading about that aspect of her and her life, but her husband is maddening. The whole book is following Grace as she is getting a divorce from her husband and all through their journey. He literally takes everything from her, but it is so interesting how it all plays out in the end. It is a book I would recommend to every woman who wants a good novel to get into this summer. I gave this book 5 stars!

Pool Safety Tips

July 13, 2015

Last summer, I experienced my scariest “mommy moment” to date. My son (9 months at the time), fell off of a float and into the pool at my parent’s house. My siblings and parents were in the pool when we dropped by to say hi and they wanted me to prop Hampton up on a float so he could float around with them for a bit. My dad decided he was ready to get out of the pool and he didn’t notice Hampton on the float. He pushed the float out of his way and Hamp went tumbling off and sank to the bottom of the pool.

Without even thinking, I jumped in (fully clothed) and scooped him off the bottom of the pool. It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me and Hampton. Luckily, he was okay, but I was so upset with myself for allowing this to happen. I’m supposed to protect him – always. It was so upsetting. This situation could have had a really different outcome. We were lucky.

One thing I have learned with kids is accidents happen – whether a parent is there paying attention or not. Pools are so much fun, but they can be very scary. Thankfully, Aflac offers Accident Policies for these situations. Had Hampton been really damaged or hurt from this, it would have been terrible to not have insurance that covered accidents.

I want to share some pool safety tips with all of you because it is always good to refresh our memories on how to stay safe while we enjoy our summer.

Pool Safety Tips:

1. Don’t run close to a pool.
2. Keep your children away from drains and other openings to avoid them getting trapped.
3. Watch your children at all times.
4. Teach your kids how to swim and basic water safety tips.
5. No diving in shallow water.
6. Keep riding toys (like bikes) away from the pool area.
7. Keep your pool clean so the water is clear.
8. Don’t swim alone.
9. Don’t push people in the pool.
10. Keep electronics away from the pool.
11. Teach children how to float as early as possible.
12. Make sure young children wear floating devices (arm floaties, life jacket, etc.) at all times.

Please be safe this summer! For more information on Aflac’s Accident Policies, please visit their accident insurance page.

How do you practice water safety?

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

Favorite Free Blogging Resources

July 10, 2015

Picmonkey is a free photo editor that is extremely easy to use. I absolutely love it and use it for most of my photos on my blog. It is so simple to edit the exposure, size, add text and create great collages.

StumbleUpon is great for gaining more exposure to your blog. By stumbling your blog posts, you are broadening your audience and putting your posts before new faces. You have to be really careful about stumbling your own posts too much. I try to stumble about 15 to 20 other people’s posts for every one of my own just to be safe. SU will penalize you for stumbling your own work too often.

Pinterest continues to be my #1 referral site to my blog. Take advantage of this free site. Create pinnable photos and pin every post to Pinterest. Pin each post to different boards on different days at different times so that more people will see them. Do you follow me on Pinterest?

Facebook Groups have been amazing for my blog. I have found some wonderful blogs to follow and read every day through these groups. It is so nice to have bloggers sharing your work for you, but you also spend a good amount of time sharing their work as well. Since working with these groups, my pageviews and unique visitors has seen a substantial increase.

Link-Ups are wonderful for bloggers. There are so many link-ups every day of the week that you can participate in. In the (almost) 3 years I have been blogging, I can tell you that most of my readers are other bloggers. Sure, a handful of my friends and family read it occasionally, but the ones that read it daily and leave comments are other bloggers. Link-ups are a great way to find posts to read and new blogs that are in your niche to fall in love with! Visit my link-up list here!

What are some of your favorite free blogging resources?

How To Ask For Help

July 9, 2015

Can I be honest with you guys for a second? Being a mother of 2 babies is hard. I knew it would be difficult and I tried to prepare for it, but it is so much harder than I realized. I honestly don’t know how mothers of multiples do it. I am in awe of you and you need a hug. And a spa ~~day~~ week. Lately, I have felt very overwhelmed.

I have tried to be a really independent mother. I want to do everything myself and I hate hate HATE asking for help. I feel like my kids are my responsibility and I get so caught up in the mindset of having to take care of them by myself. I should have them all the time. I should be the one to feed them, clothe them, bathe them at night, take them to the park, teach them. I am their mother. I am the one supposed to be raising them.Funny thing happens when I think like this. God laughs at me. He says, “No, no, no, sweetheart. You need help. You can’t do it alone.”

I do need help, y’all.

A childhood friend of mine started a Mommy Play Group on Facebook (which is awesome) and we met a couple of weeks ago downtown at the splash pad. I was so excited! I just knew Hampton would love it. I mean, anything outside that involves water is right up his alley! Oh boy was I wrong.

I loaded the kids, Hamp in the stroller and SR in my ergo. I packed our lunches and we hiked down to the splash pad (because it is a hike when you are hauling 2 babies up a hill). I didn’t know I could sweat through jean shorts, but I can. In case you were wondering.

Once we made it, a train went right by the splash pad. Hamp spotted it right away. . He was so excited, but as soon as the train went away, he started pitching a fit. Then SR started screaming because it was time for her to eat. Hampton never would touch the water. He watched everyone else play and he continued to pitch fits, asking for the “choo choo.” I finally said “that’s it!” I loaded them back up and hiked back to the car with two screaming babies. I was so thankful to my friend who helped me push the stroller part of the way back. I didn’t ask, but she offered and didn’t even wait for a reply. She just helped me. It was so nice!

I was so tired, hot and frustrated. They were hot and not happy at all. We all really needed a nap. It hit me really fast that this is why I should not be afraid to ask for help. I am feeling overwhelmed right now, and it is okay. I’m still trying to learn how to be available to 2 babies all the time while working and blogging. It is so tough sometimes.

God has a funny way of teaching me lessons. He definitely has a sense of humor. I am stubborn and determined and he is trying to show me that it can’t always be my way. I can’t do it alone. I have to learn to rely on Him, always. After this experience, I can honestly say, I have learned my lesson. It really does take a village to raise a child, and it’s okay to learn to rely on the village sometimes.

If you’re a mom, I just want to say that you are wonderful. You are doing an amazing job. No matter what phase of life you’re in – whether you have babies or grown adult children there will always be challenges because you’re a mom. You are everything to your kids, so don’t give up and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. We all need help sometimes.

All I Need is Coffee and Mascara

July 8, 2015

Tank: c/o LINDSxoPRESSES // Fitness Leggings: c/o Lorna Jane // Shoes: Nike Frees

Most mornings, all I need (or have time for) is coffee and mascara. This tank truly says it all because it is basically my life right now. Some mornings, I barely even get a chance to drink my coffee. It all depends on the babies.

With that being said, I have managed to exercise every day, but I haven’t quite established a workout schedule yet. I am basically working out when I can. Some days that means going to a late Zumba class, other days, I have to get up really early to run. It just depends on our schedules.

I promised I would give you guys updates periodically on my weight loss journey, so here goes…

I have finally started losing weight again. This has been a frustrating process because even though I was eating clean, breastfeeding and walking, I did not lose a single pound in over 4 weeks. It was beyond frustrating. Once I was cleared to exercise a couple of weeks ago, I really buckled down. I started C25K and am currently on week 5! I also continued to eat healthy and started using My Fitness Pal app again to keep up with my calories to make sure I did not eat too much sugar, carbs, etc.

It has definitely helped me a lot! I am now 8 lbs. away from my pre-pregnancy weight. We have less than 5 weeks til our cruise, so the chances of me losing all of it by then are slim, however, I am finally losing weight again and I am so thankful that I am getting healthier and closer to being able to wear my clothes again!

I absolutely love my LINDSxoPRESSES tanks! I ordered this one and another one that will show it’s face on my blog soon! They are so comfortable and go with anything! I can run in them, or I can pair them with jean shorts! Graphic tees and tanks are so “in” right now and I really love them! This adorable Etsy shop offers so many different colors, styles, and custom options. There are sizes for babies all the way through adults! Definitely check out all this shop has to offer! Be sure to keep up with the latest updates and styles on Facebook!

LINDSxoPRESSES is offering a Free Shipping code “LOGANCAN” for every order over $20!

Literary Junkies Book Club – June 2015

June 30, 2015

Here are this month’s questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

– I’m reading Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave and loving it so far. I was seriously hooked from the first page. It is so addicting and I can’t wait to see what happens! Read the synopsis from Goodreads here!

2. What are your top 3 reads for summer?

– Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
– The Royal We by Heather Cocks
– The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert

3. Do you have a favorite book that you like to re-read?

– The only books I’ve ever re-read are Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

4. Do you have a favorite reading spot?

I love to read in bed before going to sleep. I also love to read in my chaise lounge. It is so comfortable. Unfortunately, it is at my parents house at the moment.

5. Do you enjoy sipping on a beverage while you read? If so, tell us your favorite drink pairing!!

– I do love a good cup of coffee while I read! Coffee + a good book = perfection.

Check out my 12 Books You Should Read This Summer!

What are you currently reading?

How To Protect Your Baby From The Sun + Double Stroller Drama

June 25, 2015

Romper: Old Navy // Birks: Shoe Station // H’s shirt: Polo // H’s sandals: Sun Sans // Car Seat Cover: c/o Covered Goods

Getting out with two babies is NOT easy. Just ask my friends how our splash pad experience went the other day (oh, don’t worry, that story is coming). Yes, I bought a double stroller, but we HATE it. It is just way too big and bulky. I have pushed several double strollers in stores and they are nowhere near that big. It is literally like pushing a boat. I will never buy another stroller again that I have not been able to try out in a store. Lesson learned.

So, I usually put Rae in the wrap or ergo and have H in the stroller. Lately though, he has been able to walk a bit more. That has been helpful especially if we are just running in and out somewhere quickly.

In this bright summer sun, it is important to me to protect my babies. I try to always put sunscreen on them, but for my infant, I feel the need to protect her even more. She is not a fan of the bright sun (yet). I have been joking around and calling her my vampire baby because she is more pale than H was and cringes in the sunlight.

This car seat cover is so awesome! It fits easily over her car seat and covers her really well. It can also be worn as a nursing cover which I LOVE! Just throw it on as a scarf and you’re ready to go! It is so cute and comes in several colors and patterns. I snagged the gray because it will so with pretty much anything!

How do you protect your baby from the sun? Could you recommend a great double stroller?