With a preteen boy in the house, one thing I hear about twenty times a day is "Mom, I'm hungry!" Seriously, my son would eat us out of house and home if we'd let him. But I suppose that kind of ravenous appetite is to be expected in a growing boy. So what's a mom to do for those all too often, between meal hunger pangs? Well one of the things I love to grab are quick snacks, such as the many varieties of tasty treats available from Farm Rich. You are familiar with Farm Rich, right? They make some of the yummiest finger foods I have ever eaten outside of a restaurant. I especially love their quesadillas and their jalapeno poppers. Not to mention their to-die-for pizza slices and their bacon cheeseburger mini sliders! Honestly, I am such a fan of appetizer type foods like these that I would gladly forgo main dishes in favor of these delicious, savory bites! I have actually done just that while dining out. Rather than order an entree, I just ordered mozzarella sticks and southwestern egg rolls. I'm sure the waitress thought I was nuts, but my taste buds were in heaven!
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If there is one thing I love about being a woman, it's getting to dress in pretty, feminine clothing. I love dresses especially, and wear them almost daily. I really love the flowy fabrics and flirty feel a good dress gives. I'm not going to lie: I also like the way my legs look in a dress and some killer heels! While I have my definite body woes, one thing I was blessed with are great legs. (Thanks, Mom!) So I definitely use this to my advantage and accentuate them by wearing dresses as often as possible. While I have a ton of gorgeous dresses, I still find myself drooling over the dresses at Shabby Apple. (I will own one someday, mark my words!) Shabby Apple is a fabulous online boutique that specializes in vintage-inspired, elegant dresses that will make any woman look and feel just like a pin-up girl.You know what I mean. Glamorous and subtly sexy, like Bette Davis and Audrey Hepburn. The dresses at Shabby Apple are reminiscent of simpler times, America's Glory Days, when women routinely dolled themselves up in classically pretty, simply graceful dresses and wore pin-curls and heels just to go to the market. I have always found something alluring about vintage, old Hollywood styled clothing, and Shabby Apple offers a plethora of gorgeous dresses that epitomize this bygone era. These women's dresses are designed to bring out the femininity of all women. They even have a tool that helps you find your own signature look based on your body type! With rich colors, sumptuous fabrics, and elegant styling, Shabby Apple dresses are sure to bring out the bombshell in you! Here are a couple of my favorite offerings at Shabby Apple: When I was a kid, it was my biggest dream in the wold to become a famous singer. I would sing along with everything, and even had a karaoke machine! During middle school and high school, I was even a very active member of the school choirs. I have even performed in a few musicals and local dinner theater type productions. So music has always played a big part in my life. Obviously, I never got famous. Life happened, and rather than pursue those pipe-dreams, I found my true calling in life: Being a mother. I now have a preteen who shares similar daydreams of musical fame that I had at his age. Kyle LOVES to sing and dance, and he even writes his own songs. So when I got the opportunity to try out the new Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone, guitar, and drum set, I was definitely excited. We had heard of Paper Jamz before, but to be honest, I had no idea what they were or how they worked. I was actually under the misconception that these instruments were made of paper or cardboard! (Oops!) We were shocked when our Paper Jamz band package arrived, because not only are these products NOT made of paper, they are durable plastic that is paper thin! Hence the name, I suppose! These items are totally cool, too! The Paper Jamz guitar and drums act like like real instruments! I especially loved the guitar. While it has no strings to break, as you move your fingers along the frets, you can actually play chords and melodies, and there is even a realistic whammy bar effect! The guitar can be used for freestyle jamming or you can play along with one of the pre-loaded songs, or even add your own using the Paper Jamz app! I have some very lucky winners to announce! You have all been e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim your prizes! Thanks to all who entered, and congrats!
Jewelry Bar: Linda L. Wahmies: Melissa NeoStrata: BeautyToLove Guylian: Ashley S. Simple Solution: Judith Plasma Car: Kate C. If there is one thing children are brimming with, it's imagination. Children love to live out their fantasies through imaginative play. Whether they be a superhero ready to save the day, or maybe even a Cookie Bandit, ready to raid the next unsuspecting cookie jar that crosses their path, kids love to assume larger than life personas and incorporate them into their play. I remember when I was little, I was a blankie girl. I had 2 worn out, sad little blankies that I would carry everywhere. I made Linus of Peanuts fame look like a blankie beginner! As I toted around my blue and yellow blankies, I would often find crazy ways to wear them. One of my favorite ways to wear them were like superhero capes! I would run around wildly with my blankie-cape pretending that I had super-human powers. I laugh thinking back on it now, but to a small child, this is very serious business! That's why I was so excited to review the personalized superhero capes from Power Capes. You see, I have a devilish little girl who loves to wreak havoc and leave complete and utter destruction in her path. She must be pretending to be a whirlwind as she throws her toys (and anything else she can reach) all over the room! She reminds us of a mischievous villain, and I knew that one of the kids capes from Power Capes would just tie her whole look together perfectly. What makes Power Capes so special? Well, their awesome capes are fully customizable and easy to create. They offer a wide variety of colors, emblems, and even offer initial capes! In addition to their kids capes, this company offers superhero capes for heroes of all sizes, from the tiniest sidekicks to the most burly adults! I can just picture my goofball husband running around in a cape making whoosh noises. Yes, this is something he would really do! This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Upromise is celebrating its 10th Anniversary by giving away $20,000 to users who share a story that tells how a parent has supported a child's dream! Upromise members have received more than $600 million in college savings through their rewards program, and it wants to celebrate all of the ways it has helped to fuel those sparks that made children into the people they are today and the adults they will become tomorrow. Users can participate in the sweepstakes by submitting a story, and can vote on their favorite stories by “liking” them. Upromise will give away $1,000 to 10 winners and a grand prize winner for $10,000 will be selected from the participants as well. Upromise invites you to join the movement, share your experiences and give a spark to help fuel the flame of their future dreams. What is YOUR dream for your children? Maybe you'd like to see them go to college. Maybe you have higher hopes that they become an astronaut or Nobel Prize Winner? No dream is too big, just as no dream is too small. As parents, we want the best for our children's futures. We want them to grow to be successful, well-rounded and productive adults. After all, the future is theirs!
What's MY dream for my kids? Well, it is a small dream. Rather unremarkable in nature, and shared by parents the world over. I simply want my children to be happy. I mean truly happy. We live in a society where there is so much pressure to fit a certain predetermined mold. I simply want my children to learn to love themselves the way they are, and to ignore the many pressures to be "perfect" that society forcefeeds kids on a daily basis. I want my kids to be kind and generous in spirit, and regardless of who they are or what they choose to become, I want them to simply be happy and comfortable in their own skin. After all, all the money and possessions in the world mean absolutely nothing if a person is not genuinely happy from the inside.
Head on over to the UPromise Dream Wall at www.upromisetodream.com to enter YOUR dream and be in the running to win up to $10,000 for your child's future!
Official rules can be found HERE: One of my absolute favorite parts of having a little girl is getting to dress her up in cute, feminine clothing. My daughter is the very definition of a girly-girl, and she seems to love being dolled up in pretty dresses, tutus, and other frilly duds. When we dress her in such apparel, she likes to examine herself in the mirror and always seems to spend extra time touching and admiring her outfits. The first time we put her in a tutu, she had a blast just feeling the tulle and was absolutely fascinated by the vibrant color and fluffy texture. While there are so many clothing options available for little girls, I tend to gravitate towards more unique styles that have a boutique designed feel to them. Sure, I could hop on over to my nearest big-box retailer and pick up several adorable outfits for my little princess. But in doing so, chances are, half the tots on the block probably have the same exact outfits. I like my little angel to stand out and wear clothing that matches her diva-like personality. For Sophie, nothing will do but the very best. Ask anyone who knows her, she is one of a kind. She knows what she likes, and isn't at all shy about expressing it! She must get that from her Daddy's side, since I tend to be extremely meek in nature. Either way, my baby has a larger than life personality, and I like her clothing to reflect this. Back to school is fast approaching. I am actually counting down the days! At the time I am writing this, only 8 more days, to be exact. My 11 year old has decided he doesn't want to act like a normal kid and play outside this summer. I can't really blame him, as it has been scorching hot here in Virginia this summer. But for some odd reason, he just wants to sit around the house all day, follow me around, and watch TV. Yes, I love spending time with my son, but at the same time, like many, many parents, I am more than ready for school to start. Part of the reason I am so ready for back-to-school is because my son having an earlier bed time will allow for more romance between my husband and I. With 2 babies, a home to take care of, and a preteen around us constantly, sometimes it's difficult to find quality couple time. I have to keep reminding myself that even though we're busy parents, we are still a couple. An US. And that is something that shouldn't be neglected. That's why I was so excited to be selected to participate in Smart & Sexy's Back To School Blogger Bonanza! I couldn't wait to get some of their gorgeous lingerie, undergarments and swimwear to review. I have drooled over the items on their website many, many times, and have always been struck by the pretty yet modern feel to these garments. I couldn't wait to see what the expert staff at Smart & Sexy hand-selected for me! When my package from Smart & Sexy arrived, I felt like a kid at Christmas. Their items were beautifully wrapped, which only enhanced my anticipation. As I opened my surprise grab bag, I immediately felt as though the Smart & Sexy staff were mind-readers. They somehow tapped into my sense of style and sent items that fit my taste and personality perfectly! Take a look at what I received! As you all know, I am a HUGE fan of BabyLegs. I mean HUGE. If my budget would allow me to own every single pair of their adorable leg-warmers and socks, I would definitely do so. Not to mention their to-die-for tights for little princesses! BabyLegs have got to be my absolute favorite must-have baby accessory. Not only are they the cutest things ever made for chubby little legs, they are also super-convenient. Especially during diaper changes! You see, when baby is decked out in their BabyLegs, diaper changing is an absolute breeze. Since there are no snaps to tug at or pants to pull up or down, there is always easy access to the diaper and you can have baby ready to rock in lightning speed! In addition to making diaper changes pain-free for baby and parent alike, they also help to protect crawling knees! I love putting BabyLegs in Xander as he scoots ARMY-style across the floor. He isn't crawling quite yet, but it's just a matter of time. This kid is motivated, to say the least. And when he's wearing BabyLegs, his little knees are protected from painful carpet burn. BabyLegs are also wonderful for unpredictable weather. Here in Virginia, early mornings and night time tend to be on the chilly side. But during the heat of the day, temperatures can be downright sweltering! Rather than have to deal with multiple wardrobe changes, you can depend on BabyLegs to keep your little one's legs (or arms) warm and toasty. When the temperature rises, simply take them off. These are perfect for day trips during the spring and summer. I often put my babies in a T-shirt, cloth-diaper, and BabyLegs and they're good to go. BabyLegs can also complete an outfit beautifully. Add BabyLegs under a cute skirt, and you've got your own little runway ready fashionista! So since BabyLegs are the epitome of awesomeness, you can only imagine how thrilled I was when they agreed to sponsor my In Honor Of The Tatas Event this October. Since this wonderful, multi-blog event is to help raise Breast Cancer Awareness, I received a gorgeous set of pink products for my review. Here are just a couple of the great items I had the chance to try on my Sophie-Monster. I distinctly remember when I first heard the name SoftBums. They were about to launch their Omni line of diapers, and there was quite the buzz around the blogosphere. I watched the YouTube introduction to the Omni, and was definitely intrigued by the unique features of this very versatile diaper. I then spent the next several days hopping around to several different blogs and entering a massive SoftBums giveaway that was being held in celebration of the Omni debut. Unfortunately, I didn't win one despite the several hours I spent trying to. But from that time on, I knew that SoftBums were a brand of cloth diaper I wanted to try. Luckily, I recently received the opportunity to do just that! Now I see what all the SoftBums buzz was about! I received the SoftBums Echo System to try out in their vibrant Sprout color. The Echo System includes an awesome one size shell as well as a Dry Touch Pod and a Dry Touch Mini Pod. So this diaper grows with your baby! SoftBums even offers other insert options such as Super Pods for your heavy wetters and Organic Bamboo Pods that are 70% Organic Bamboo and 30% Organic Cotton! So with SoftBums, it's easy to customize your diaper exactly the way YOU want to. Take a look at all of the great features the Echo has to offer! SoftBums Echo Features:
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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