Fall Favorites

Although it's technically fall according to the calendar, it's still blazin' hot here in Florida.

But that's not gonna keep me from posting some of my new fall favorites.

Granted, they're not going to include this fall's latest trends like faux leather leggings and above-the-knee riding boots, because it's just not cold enough for that kinda gear right now.

But I will share with you some great new items that are putting me in the fall mood...even if it is 90 degrees out today.

First up... a fall staple that will last you through winter...a fantastic red lipstick!

Now, I don't wear red very often. In fact, I always thought it made me look "yellow-ish" and clashed with my skin tone. But if Miss blondie Kristen Bell can rock a red lip, then so can I!

This Sephora Cream Lip Stain in "01 Always Red" is a great way to try the bold red lip trend without breaking the bank. This baby only cost $13 and it has some serious staying power without feeling sticky or dry.

I wore it last weekend to a casino-themed charity event where my entire outfit was black with some turquoise jewelry and this lipstick really completed the outfit. It made my makeup look very polished and classic. I highly recommend picking some up for the upcoming holiday party season.

Next up, a candle that I am totally crushing on right now.

I figure, even if it's hot outside, I can always crank down my A/C and light a pumpkin-scented candle and it will feel much more like a crisp fall day.

I've always been a fan of Bath & Body Works 3-wick candles because they smell fantastic, and last a long time. There are some great fall scents out right now, and there are some pretty heinous ones. I've made the mistake of ordering them online before without actually smelling them first... big mistake. Don't do it.

This one, called "Heirloom Pumpkin" is one of my favorites right now. I like to burn it by itself, or in conjunction with an apple-scented candle (my sis-in-law taught me that trick!).

There are several pumpkin/fall-scented B&BW candles out right now, so I'd recommend going to a store and smelling them for yourself. This one has undertones of nutmeg and vanilla, but I have another one that has more of a pumpkin-cinnamon smell to it and I love it too.

Another fall staple for me is this great Cable & Gauge tunic that I found at TJ Maxx (note: I did not pay $51 for it, as it's listed on this web site, I believe I paid closer to $25.

Sadly, my photography skills have a looooooong way to go, so this picture doesn't do it one bit of justice. Here's a better image of a lovely stranger wearing it that I snagged off the internet:

I'm telling you, I will be living in this tunic this fall! It is the softest thing I have ever worn and it's the perfect weight too. I've worn it with shorts, skinny jeans and cropped workout pants. It's so versatile, I just may go back and get it in grey too!

My next favorite thing has nothing to do with fall, and everything to do with starting my day off in a good mood.

I saw this line of hand-stamped silverware on Instagram and instantly (pun intended) fell in love. Milk and Honey Luxuries has the most adorable line of products. From funny, to sweet, and everything in between, they have come up with some great "one liners" to stamp on their beautiful silverware.

Every morning, I try to take this motto seriously and start my day with a grateful heart.

Because when I pause and think about the fact that I have healthy children, a husband who loves me and friends whom I know I can count on... life is pretty awesome indeed.

The next few "favorites" aren't necessarily fall-related items, but they are super important during this time of year as we enter cold & flu season.

I am a big believer in the healing power of essential oils, when it comes to fighting off germs and beating a cold once you've contracted something, but I also drink a glass of Super Orange flavored "Emergen-C" every single morning.

There are only 25 calories per pack and they are loaded with vitamin C, B12, Zinc, and lots of antioxidants and electrolytes. If you don't currently take a multivitamin, I would highly recommend getting a box of these and making it part of your morning routine.

Along the same lines, I am a firm believer in a daily multivitamin for my kids. They come in contact with some nasty germs at school each day (God please help them to remember to wash their hands after they use the bathroom!!).

I used to give them whatever brand of gummy vitamins were on sale. But then I noticed how loaded with sugar they were and how very little vitamins were actually in them.

That's when I switched to Rainbow Light Nutri Stars chewable children's vitamins.

 

I'm not gonna lie. They do not taste fantastic (kinda like a sweet tart but not as sweet). But my kids have gotten used to them over the years and now eat them without complaint. They know they can't get up from the breakfast table until their vitamin is gone. It's just habit now.

These vitamins have only 1.5 grams of sugar per vitamin and have no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. They also have 92 mg of vegetables and green foods per vitamin. I'm tellin ya... these are powerhouse vitamins!

You can buy them on Amazon for about $15 or at most health food stores.

And one more thing I'm diggin these days are these awesome Kashi bars:

 

I realize they sound pretty bland, but they are delicious - really! They are crunchy and nutty and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect to throw in your purse for an on-the-go breakfast or snack.

That's all I've got for today. Payton is home and ready for some multiplication quizzing, and little man is bound to wake up right in the middle of it, so I better wrap this up. 

I hope you try some of these products. And if you do, please let me know what you think. Stay warm, cozy and healthy this fall! Cheers y'all!

Favorite Things

Just got back from spending 3 fabulous days in Long Boat Key with one of my besties and her daughter...oh and my two kiddos. It wasn't exactly days spent lounging by the pool alternating between napping and reading gossip magazines. But we did manage to have tons of fun and slip in plenty of relaxation in between judging pool jumping contests, collecting shells, and many, many games of Candy Land (Parker's newest obsession).

I'll post some fun re-cap pictures later this week, but first I wanted to post a new list of my "Favorite Things." All of these can be found at either Target, online, or your local grocery store. None of them cost more than around $10, but they are all fabulous, at least in my opinion...and lucky for me, that's all that matters on this here blog. :)

Without further adieu...

First item up is one of my most exciting finds. I love the "Connoisseurs" brand jewelry cleaner. I've used it ever since Brian proposed and I had a reason to actually clean my jewelry. I went to buy a new jar of the liquid "Precious" jewelry cleaner for my rings and other precious stones, when I stumbled across this:

Connoisseurs Dry Jewelry Wipes

I was skeptical at first, but willing to give it a try since I often wear silver necklaces that tend to tarnish after a few wears. I was SO thrilled when I first used it on my silver monogrammed necklace. One quick wipe, and BAM! it was shiny silver again. I was shocked! I grabbed another favorite silver necklace that is not sterling silver, but has held up quite well over the years. I swiped that wipe across it and again - BRILLIANTLY shiny!

Now, I keep this little case stored right next to my jewelry box and anytime I put on a necklace that looks a little dingy, I just give it a quick wipe, and it's back to it's original shiny goodness!

And since we're on the topic of great Target finds, I'll share a few of my latest Target favorites (by the way, when you read the word "Target" on my blog, I love to think that you're actually pronouncing it "Tar-jaaa" all fancy-like.)

I found these beauties in the Dollar Section last week:

Two fully-lined zippered bags. 

Perfect for my purse to hold makeup, gum, etc. ($3 )

 Beautiful Chevron Thank You Notes with contrasting fuchsia envelopes. LOVE! ($1)

Not nearly as cute, but also a new favorite is this water bottle I found on clearance at Target:

Britta Kids' Bottle Water Filtration System ($3.94)

 

I wouldn't have paid $7.99 for it, but for $3.94 it is a good deal for a self-filtering water bottle. Parker loves it and I can fill it up anywhere and know that he's getting clean, filtered water.


And check out this adorable wall calendar I got on sale!

 Blue Sky Monthly Wall Calendar, Dabney Lee Designer Series

 I am so excited to start filling it up with all sorts of fun things we have coming up! (Yes, I'm a bit obsessed with chevron lately, but who isn't?) Plus new calendars always make me feel more organized. Is that strange??

Okay, leaving Target to share some other great products that have become my all-time favorites.

My sweet sis-in-law sent me a tube of this lip gloss from Bath & Body Works a few years ago:

C. O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint in Magenta Mint

 

She swore by it and said it was one of her favs. Now, I can officially say I am hooked! It's a bit pricey at $7.50 a tube, but you can get it on sale (right now it's buy 2, get 1 free) and it lasts forever!! It's the perfect shade of pink and the perfect amount of shine, and has an amazing mint taste to it. I wear it every. single. day. Seriously.

Another product I swear by is this detergent:

Dr. Bronner's Castile Lavender Liquid Soap ($6 for 8 oz)

Both of my boys have sensitive skin. Payton breaks out in eczema every winter when the humidity drops and the weather drys out. I finally took him to my dermatologist last year and she told me to immediately start washing all of his clothes in "free & clear" soaps. She said anything with perfumes or dyes will continue to irritate his skin and truly are not good for anyone's skin. So, of course I immediately switched all of my detergents when washing the kids clothes. However, I missed that "clean" scent. Enter: Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap!

I just add a tiny bit (and I'm talking maybe 1-2 Tablespoons) to the detergent section of my washer when I'm washing towels or sheets and they come out smelling so wonderful with the tiniest hint of lavender. The best part is, that it is super mild and doesn't contain any harsh chemicals (particularly Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) that irritate my boys' skin. It's a win-win for everyone! Oh, and it's got 18 other uses aside from laundry detergent. Pretty snazzy stuff.

And my final product, which I'm sure is not new to many of you, but worth mentioning just in case you haven't tried it:

Neutrogena Wet Skin Sun Block ($8-10)

This stuff is amazing. I say it makes my kids skin seem like duck down...the water just beads up on them. It can be applied on wet skin and will still work just as great as applying lotion to dry skin. Since it is a bit pricey, I usually only use it as a "re-apply" sunscreen when we've been at the pool or beach for a few hours. If you have kids who hate to sit still for sunscreen reapplications, try this product - it's worth the $!

Okay, that's all I've got for now. I hope some of these products become your new favs too! And I'd love to hear about any of your favorite items as well. Please leave me a comment or email me anything worth giving a "shout out!"

Foods I'm Diggin'

Hi there!

Nothing too new and exciting to share with you today. Just some foods (and a beverage) that I'm really diggin' these days.

Let's start off with my addiction: coffee.

I say I'm addicted to coffee because I am a really, really crabby person without coffee in the morning. But I'm not the type of person who drinks it all day long. I just really enjoy a hot, steaming cup first thing in the morning. After that, it's just a bonus if I have another cup during the day.

Most days, Brian and I make a pot of half-caffeinated coffee in the morning. It allows both of us to have a couple of cups without getting jittery. But on the weekends, when I know we're going to be laz-ing around all morning, I really love a good cup of fully-loaded caffeinated coffee.

Enter, Cracker Barrel coffee. 

 

Mmmm... it's so good. Not bitter, or knock-your-socks-off-French-Roast-strong, but just good, tasty coffee. I love getting a cup (or two) of it at the restaurant. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw a bag of it sitting on the shelf in the "Country Store" calling out my name.

It's a bit expensive at $9 a bag, but I don't drink it all the time, so it lasts for a while.

(It's also really delicious sometimes around 3 p.m. when I feel like I need a nap to get through the rest of my day. Instant wake-me-up!)

My next item is for all you Crock-Pot users out there.

This ingredient is so simple, yet adds SO much flavor!

Campbell's Golden Mushroom Condensed Soup

I got a recipe from my sister-in-law that called for Golden Mushroom soup, but I had never heard of it. It took a bit of searching on the soup aisle, but I'm so glad I found it. It is similar to Cream of Mushroom soup, but it also has beef stock and tomato puree in it, which gives it its golden color.

I promise you, this little baby will add so much flavor to your Crock Pot meals. Look for recipes that call for it, or substitute it for Cream of Mushroom if you think it will work with the recipe. You will not be disappointed!

Next up is something I got hooked on over Spring Break.

Our good friends who own the river homes that we stay in when we visit them always buy these crackers to take out on the boat as a snack.

Nabisco Premium Saltine Minis

Seems like such a simple idea... take a Saltine and shrink it down to a bite-size mini version.

I don't know why these things are so good, but just trust me... they are!

I can't eat just one. I have to have at least a handful, if not a bowl-ful. 

The kids love them too.

I make a little "snack mix" using these crackers, cheddar Goldfish and dry roasted peanuts. The boys devour it!

Here's maybe something you've never tried... Pine Nuts (also called Pignolias).

They're my new obsession when it comes to making salads. 

I love sprinkling them on top of any kind of salad. 

They add crunch and a delicious mild nutty flavor.

I also love them in pasta salad, or just a handful as a snack. YUM!

Last but certainly not least... let's talk peanut butter.

Here's my favorite.

Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter

(I've been known to eat it by the spoonful)

I like this peanut butter for so many reasons, but mainly because it tastes like PEANUTS! Isn't that what peanut butter should taste like?

Here is the ingredient label of this Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter:

Peanuts, and 1% or less of salt.

That's it.

Now, check out the ingredient label of Publix Peanut Butter:

Roasted Peanuts, SUGAR, less than 2% of FULLY HYDROGENATED vegetable oils.

What? Hydrogenated vegetable oil in my peanut butter? No thanks.

Yes, natural peanut butter costs a bit more. But for a mom who serves it to her kids (and eats it herself) multiple times a week, it's worth it to give them the healthier option.

And it really does taste better. :)

Okay foodies, that's it for today.

Leave me a comment and tell me your latest food obsession. I'm always willing to try new things!

Some New Favorites

We've got a busy weekend ahead of us with a camping trip, a visit from both sets of Grandparents, more birthday celebrating to do, and I'm singing at church on Sunday. So... I thought it best to fit in a quick post now knowing that I probably won't be blogging again this weekend.

I have some new favorites to share with you!

I hope you've eaten lunch (or dinner) because these might just make you a bit hungry...

I discovered these babies recently at our local Publix. They are in the refrigerated case in the deli section - like near the potato salad and coleslaw.

There are lots of varieties, but these are my two favs:

 "Couscous Primavera with Feta" and "Roasted Corn Poblano."

 Here is what the roasted corn one looks like:

On mornings when I work out, I come home and have one egg on a whole wheat English muffin with a little bit of shredded cheese. I started mixing in this roasted corn salsa with it and it is SO tasty!

I also added it to my quesadilla last night and it was equally delicious.

Here is what the couscous looks like:

There are so many yummy flavors in this one: green pepper, red pepper, shredded carrot, feta parsley...it's like a party in your mouth!

I eat it straight out of the container with a spoon (and a little salt), but I bet it would be delicious added to a turkey wrap too.

My next fav is nothing new, but it's still worth mentioning.

OH. MY.

If you like salt & vinegar potato chips, you must try Cape Cod's version.

They are so flavorful and vinegar-y. They are worth every calorie!

Fortunately, they are so powerful in their flavor that you only need a small amount to feel satisfied.

These are also not new to a lot of people, but I'm totally addicted to them!

Marcona Almonds.

Uh oh! Looks like Dad needs to bring me some more!

These almonds are native to Spain, so they are very different than the dark almonds we are used to seeing here in the States.

They're also kind of hard to find around here. But my Dad buys them at Costco and brings them to me (and I don't share them with anyone!). Thanks Dad! :)

They are much softer than a typical almond, and almost buttery. That may sound a little strange, but trust me on this one. If you see Marcona almonds in your grocery store - pick up a canister. They will be gone so fast!

Last but definitely not least, let me introduce you to a fairly new line of products called "Angie's Delightfully Different."

The packaging is edgy and bright with bold lettering. 

And the ingredients don't make you feel guilty eating their products.

My friend Alexis told me about this popcorn and I am so glad she did.

If you don't have the opportunity to get your hands on my Dad's famous homemade popcorn, this will do as a fabulous substitute.

 And it's only 35 calories a cup!!

Did I mention I like the packaging? How funny is this little "Nom Nom Now." phrase next to the opening of the bag??

I have only seen this brand at Target, but I'm hoping they start selling it in our local grocery stores too.

Okay, now that I've tempted your taste buds, go find some good food and enjoy yourselves!

Happy Friday everyone!

New Favorite Things

Ready for an all-new list of my recent "Favorite Things?" Wish I could be like Oprah and mail you samples of them because they're all great!

I'll start with a back-to-school item. My mom and I were shopping together last weekend while she was here and we popped into my favorite store in the mall, Francesca's Collection. This store alone could be listed as one of my Favorite Things. There are so many wonderful items in there, I just adore it! Anyhow, this book of "Instant Happy Notes" caught my eye and I'm so glad it did! They are over-sized post-it notes that have little sayings on them.

For example: "Why I'm happy now: YOU!"

And: "Awesomeness Grade: A+"

I've been sticking them in Payton's lunchbox each day along with a little note. He loves them and I love that it only takes a couple seconds to do. 

(There are also notes included that would be more appropriate for friends & spouses.)

My second item, is also sort of school-related because it has to do with runny noses. Parker picked up a little cold this week and since he can't blow his nose yet, he tends to get such a red, sore nose from me wiping it all day long. That's where these come in:

Yes, "Boogie Wipes." I know, they sound ridiculous, but they really work! They are almost like baby wipes, but they have a touch of saline in them and they're a bit smaller. (I'm sure my parents/in-laws/relatives are saying, "Really? We raised X amount of kids and we never had such things!" But if you were raising kids today, you would totally want a package of these babies for your babies. Trust me.


Next up, makeup! I love good makeup. The kind that doesn't necessarily cost a fortune, but that works really, really well. I also love the store Sephora. The only problem is, there are SO many products in that store, it's hard to decide which ones are worth buying. Fortunately, one of my favorite brands has helped me solve this issue.

Smashbox has come out with a "Try It Kit." It's little sample sizes of their most popular products.

  

For $20 I got a 5 products (that's less than what you'd pay for a drugstore brand) and let me tell you - these products are AWESOME! I'm totally obsessed with this lip gloss:

It's not sticky, or slimy and it doesn't goop up after an hour. It's the perfect sheer color to wear by itself if I'm heading to the grocery store or park. Or, it adds awesome shimmer on top of colored lipstick for a date night out. LOVE, love, love it! In fact, I'd give a "thumbs up" to all of the products in this kit. I really like the mascara as well.

And one more facial product to share. If you've ever used any Philosophy brand products, you know they are amazing. Well, I've been wanting to get into a better skincare routine seeing as I am pushing 40 and the wrinkles/sun spots, etc. are starting to show. I've tried a lot of other OTC wrinkle creams, but this baby takes the cake!

First off, it's easy - which means, you'll actually use it. If a skincare regime has 5 steps, you probably won't use it on a daily basis. This product reminds me of the old Noxema/Oxy 10 wipes that I used as a teenager. You simply take out a little pad and wipe it all over your face & neck and "Voila!" you're done. It makes your skin so much smoother and softer! I will warn you though, your skin will be much more susceptible to sunburn, so be sure to put on sunscreen (which you should be doing everyday any ways). It is a little pricy, but there are a ton of pads included and IT REALLY WORKS!

Okay, that's it for now. I have several more items to share, but I'm still in the "testing" period, so I want to make sure they are worthy of sharing before I post them. I hope some of these products become your new favorites too!

Favorite Things

I haven't done a "Favorite Things" post in a while, so I figured I'd share some things I'm really diggin' these days.

First order of business: Beauty Products (my favorite category besides clothes!)

Suave Keratin Infusion Leave-In Conditioner

 I'm not a regular Suave user, so I was skeptical when I saw the ad for this in a magazine. But I know Keratin is all the rage these days for colored/dry/damaged hair... and I have all of those issues, so I figured, why not?

It's amazing! And even better, it smells amazing!

I rub a dime-sized portion of it in my hair every time I wash, and it is easier to comb through, and much smoother after I dry it. And my hair smells amazing!

I love it when a product actually does what it says it does. 

Jergens Natural Glow Express Self Tanner Lotion

I've tried a LOT of self-tanners, and this one is really good. I would say my all-time favorite is still the Neutrogena Spray-on Tanner, but it's expensive and the can empties very quickly. Whereas this one will last a long time and really adds a nice tan look.

Just beware, if you use the darker one (for medium to dark skin tones) it's powerful. Be very careful to thoroughly rub it in (extra careful around ankles & feet) and be sure to wash your hands really well with soap afterwards, otherwise you'll have orange palms (you only make that mistake once).

 

Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath with Lavender

 A dear friend of mine gave me a bottle of this after my cousin passed away in January. It was great then, but I still love to use it on a daily basis. I use it in the shower on a pouf, but I'm sure it's just as wonderful in the bath. The scent reminds me of Crabtree & Evelyn soap - at about 1/2 the price. :)

Next category: Home Decor

I only have one photo to show you, but I think you'll like it:

This is my "Spring Mantle" (well, it's not really a mantle, but you get the idea). I got this adorable banner at Target and I switched out the normal stuff that sits up there with some more "Spring-y" looking stuff I already had lying around the house. A green candle, a bunny casserole dish, a white bowl filled with green (fake) apples sitting atop a white pedestal plate.

It only takes swapping out a few things in your everyday decor to make it fun for a new season. In fact, I've already got plans for my summer decor... stay tuned!

Last, but not least: Children's Products

The Gyro Bowl

 

 Have you seen the info-mercials for this product? Well, I'm happy to report, it really works!!!

A friend of mine has one and her son was using it the night we went over to their house for Easter. I was shocked at how well it worked! Her son didn't spill a thing!

So, I asked my Dad (who is the king of finding "As Seen on TV products") to keep an eye out for it since I didn't want to pay the shipping & handling from the TV order.

Happily he found it immediately and we've been enjoying it ever since. Wanna see some action shots? Of course you do! :)

 

 It really works! He didn't spill anything! :)

Last but not least: Earth's Best Crunchin' Crackers

Obviously, this only applies to those of you with small children, but I had to share it.

I've heard for a long time about how Cheez-It's are really bad because they are high in saturated fat, but my kids LOVE them (as do I, actually).

So when I saw these, I thought, well, maybe Parker will like them and at least the baby isn't eating Cheez-It's. 

Surprise, surprise - they're delicious!!!

They taste like real cheddar cheese, they're crunchy, a bit salty, and made my a company that I really like. Try em, you're kids will love em!

What about you? What are some things you are loving lately?

 

Welcome March!

It's March! And we're finally getting close to Spring... can you feel it? Okay, so you can't really feel it here, as it's been 85 degrees the past few days, but this morning it was cool and overcast and felt like a Spring morning.

We've been hanging outside a lot lately. It seems to be Parker's new favorite place, and of course Payton loves to rollerblade now, so it works out for everyone. 

After a good 30 minutes of rollerblading the other day, Payton and his friend were so sweaty, I suggested they put on their bathing suits, get out the hose and... wash the car! I love it when fun meshes with productivity! Even Parker enjoyed it...

 

Of course, this is what I got when I asked him to smile for the camera:

 Then he accidentally stuck his face in the bucket and got suds on his forehead & nose.

 (P.S. Don't you love his onesie - it's also featured on the header - it says "Little Charmer" - so cute for St. Patrick's Day!)

And speaking of St. Patrick's Day, since both Brian and I have an Irish heritage, we like to celebrate this special holiday. I bought a cute bib for Parker to wear and wanted to get a good picture of him in it. So I chased him around trying to get something cute, and this is what I got:

 

 This kid has the craziest smile in the world. And I love it!!!
Okay, one last picture of my other cute boy. This is totally random, but figured it was worth mentioning for any of you mommies out there.
There is a book series called "Elephant & Piggie" by Moe Willems. It is the cutest series and very easy for little ones to read. The illustrations are so funny. Payton has probably read each one 10 times or more. He & his friend Lilly like to act them out, which is even more hysterical.
Anyhow, there are two new Piggie & Elephant books out and I was able to get one of them at the library this week. Payton was so excited!

We are very excited for the other new one to come in as well. It's called "Happy Pig Day."

Check your library and see if you have any. Your kids will love them!