My PB + J

happy birthday ‘merica.

Our fourth was probably the most relaxing we’ve had in years. It was just my family, simple and easy. We joked, we ate ourselves silly, we drank, listened to 60’s music and watched my parents act like they did in their young lovin’ days, went in the pool and had an epic ball fight and then watched fireworks at the end of our block. Yes, I realize that was the longest run-on sentence ever. God, I am still dreaming of the food, damn, my family can cook. It was amazing. Hope y’all had a great fourth!  

disney princess half birthday celebration #dreamparty #cbias

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. #dreampsrty #cbias

Ever since my niece was born my sister and I have talked about celebrating her half birthday in June. You see, my niece was born on December 18th and then five short years later my sweet little Payton was born on the exact same date. December is one busy month and since both girls will be celebrating their milestone birthdays on the same day for, well, the rest of their lives we thought it was time to finally celebrate that half birthday of theirs. The weather is always unpredictable, the guest lists are always short due to traveling friends and family and there is only a handful of times you can throw that Winter wonderland theme. I dream of throwing birthday parties in the Summer but with both of my kids birthdays in the Fall & Winter it makes for one sad mama! Well, until now! The half birthday celebration was the perfect idea, especially with the start of Summer. I usually spend months upon months planning parties and honestly, I’ve been there done that. Enter Hallmark Disney Dream Party.

My nieces and nephew had been staying with us so I took all five kids to Walmart, yes, you read that correct. Five kids and I braved Walmart to pick-up everything we needed for the celebration. You can see my brave shopping trip here. Luckily for me, Walmart had everything we needed and we were in and out in less than an hour! We ordered our Deco-Pack cake from the bakery and then cleared the shelves of all the Hallmark Disney Princess Dream party supplies (cups, napkins, plates, party scene kits, favors boxes, favors, paper princesses, etc) and then grabbed the food for the party. Walmart really saved the day because five kids in multiple stores would have been a disaster, they truly are a one-stop party shop!

The key to this party was to keep it simple, any party I throw I tell myself that and it usually gets blown out the window. For the table I wanted it to be kid friendly but with a touch of princess glam. I used my Grandmother’s china for the plates, and added various heights of dessert plates and apothecary jars. Hallmark and Disney have really pieced together amazing products that make it simple for a stellar party. It only took me an hour or so to put the party decorations together when I usually start the day before. For the food, since it was in the middle of the afternoon I offered snacks and desserts. Some great ideas and what I used were:

– heart shaped tea sandwiches with whipped chocolate peanut butter and sliced bananas
– mini pigs in a blanket
– mini chicken pot pies
– blueberries & apple slices
– salt water taffy in various shades of pink
– sparkling lemonade
– cake & cupcakes
– raisin bread tea sandwiches spread with butter, cinnamon & sugar
– whole grain tea sandwiches spread with veggie cream cheese

Ready to see the party?!

The table settings were a perfect princess glam. My Grandmother’s china, a Disney Hallmark crown, a Disney toy (a party favor), a paper napkin, necklaces and bracelets.

 

Behind the table I used one of the Hallmark party kits and took what was shown on the package as window panels and made a backdrop. I also took the door decoration and placed it over my mirror in my dining room. Taking bits and pieces from different decorations really helped piece together the party based on what would work for our space.

Above the table on our chandelier I took white tissue pom-pom’s I had leftover from a previous party and took the princesses from the scene kit.

 

 

Payton’s other cousin, John, showed up with his girlfriend, Ashli. They brought her a ring that matches Ashli’s and can be worn around her neck until she is big enough. Seriously, so cute!

 

Now, onto the cake. You all know I am a cake snob and I should be. I had my doubts about ordering a cake from Walmart but the staff in the bakery was super nice and before I knew it the cake was ordered. When my sister picked up the cake it came in a huge gable box and arrived beautifully. The cake exactly matched the picture and it tasted amazing. The cake was moist, the buttercream tasted like buttercream and the kids swooned over it. Score! This mama knows who will be baking her kids cakes from now on…
On a separate table I displayed the food, a few gifts for the girls and the sparkling lemonade. I also added a few princess dolls that we already owned.

 

 

I used the backdrop as a photo spot so I could place their photos in the frames they decorated (below). I also had them dress the part as their favorite princess. A total must for any princess party!
I already had several packs of unpainted wooden frames and paint. I decided on Cinderella blue and had princess stickers for the girls to decorate the frames.

 

 

 

Once they played dress up and ate a few snacks the girls (and boys) headed to the pool to cool off. I purchased more than a dozen bouncy balls to place in the jacuzzi. Again, these were in the princess color palette. It was a total hit and something I recommend adding to any pool party. The adults loved them too!

 

How adorably cute was this party? My niece and daughter loved the celebration of their half birthdays and with the help of Hallmark & Disney the party was a breeze and beautiful. If you have a birthday celebration coming up you must check out Dream Parties from Hallmark and Disney at Walmart. I have already starting planning Brayden’s 2nd birthday party using their Cars collection! For more on Disney and Hallmark Dream Parties make sure to follow Hallmark and Disney on Twitter.
Are you planning a party? What dream party would you love to throw?

affordable summer fashion #ThisisStyle #cbias

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. #ThisisStyle #cbias

You guys have heard me talk about my weight loss enough. Shedding those glorious forty pounds was rewarding but my closet is dull and still full of old clothes that remind me of my heavier days. Over the past month I have tried to find affordable Summer outfits that can be worn throughout my busy days. Whether I am running errands or meeting girlfriends for happy hour I want pieces that can transition no matter what I am doing. So, when I was selected to shop at Sears for Summer wardrobe essentials I was excited at the thought of finally purging my closet and replacing with affordable on-trend pieces. I have to admit that I haven’t personally shopped at Sears in years! If you’re like me and haven’t shopped at Sears in awhile you should really check out their Sears Style feature. It’s a fun way to find out what’s on-trend, what essentials your closet needs and much, much more! They also have their shop your way rewards program – the more you shop, the more you save.


I found an adorable black and white stripe Kardashian Kollection dress that is versatile for day or night. Since Sears was having a great holiday sale I scored 40-50% off the dress and accessories plus an additional $4 off for my rewards. The entire outfit cost less than $50! I couldn’t limit myself to just one dress so I also purchased an adorable black lace blouse that can also transition throughout the day. To see my entire shopping trip you can check out my Google+ album.

I didn’t try the dress on in the store, I just went with my intuition. The dress felt amazing on! The fabric was soft, the curves and pleating were feminine on this adorable A-line dress. When we went for our Saturday morning errands I paired the dress with simple black sandals. The symmetry of the dress was fun and flirty which was perfect for the hot Summer day. On our coffee run the barista complimented the dress so I knew it was a keeper! 



After a morning of errands we relaxed a bit and then the hubby and I had tickets to see a play at the performing arts center. I was able to add a leather jacket, pointed toe heels and my Kardashian Kollection necklace to transition into the crisp Summer night air. 
The dress could have been paired with a belt, however, I chose to only accessorize with a necklace which was also from the Kardashian Kollection. Because my outfit was black and white with the hint of gold I chose a bright pink nail polish for a splash of color.


I loved this ensemble. I was comfortable all day long and the best part was that it didn’t break my pocketbook. You know the hubby was super happy about that! If you haven’t shopped at Sears in awhile I urge you check them out online or at your nearest department store. You’re bound to find the perfect Summer outfit that can transition with you throughout the day!

You can find Sears Style on their social media sites:
check out this awesome magazine to get great ideas for Summer:

Greek Quinoa Salad {recipe}

About a month ago I had lunch with my best friend at True Food Kitchen. We had the most amazing Mediterranean quinoa salad paired with to die for veggie pasta dishes. Since that meal I have been craving that simple and refreshing salad. The ingredients have been in my pantry and refrigerator to add the salad to our weekly meal plan but I never seemed to make it until last night. It was my Mom’s first quinoa dish so I was a little worried she wouldn’t care for it, but surprisingly she did and went for seconds! It’s so easy and can be made ahead of time to enjoy for an easy weeknight meal or for lunch throughout the week. Serve alongside a light pasta dish or a steamed artichoke.

 

Greek Quinoa Salad

1 cup red quinoa cooked according to the package directions (I like to replace the water with vegetable broth and I add fresh chopped garlic)
2 Persian cucumbers, cut lengthwise and then sliced
1/2 cup mini heirloom tomatoes, sliced in half
1/2 cup Marcona almonds
1/2 cup kalamata olives
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup feta cheese
1 cup organic micro baby greens

Dressing:
Juice of one lime (a lemon will do too, it’s just what I had)
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 TB extra virgin olive oil

Directions

  • Once you have cooked the quinoa let it sit for a few minutes. Combine the dressing ingredients into a small bowl and toss over cooked quinoa, set aside.
  • In a large serving bowl mix together the remaining ingredients except for the baby greens. Toss the ingredients and then add the quinoa. Refrigerate for at least thirty minutes before serving. The longer you let this salad sit the better. Before serving top with the micro baby greens. These greens wilt relatively fast so I like to top the salad with it.
  • Enjoy!

 

 

Nude Summer Make-Up Trend with #RimmelRealBeauty #CBias #shop

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. All opinions are 100% my own. #cbias #socialfabric

With Summer literally right around the corner I have found myself searching for simple and easy looks while taking the kids to play dates and for last minute brunch dates with girlfriends. My style is always simple, I am happy in jeans and a t-shirt but no matter what I am wearing my make-up is always done. Summer trends are calling for fresh, nude, dewey looks. I have to admit I am a make-up hoarder, but when trying out a new trend I like to be wise about what I am spending so while shopping at Walmart I perused the cosmetic aisles. I typically do not purchase cosmetics from Walmart, but I wanted to create this new look on a budget and with affordability of the Rimmel London line I was able to pick-up an entire new Summer look for less than $30!


When creating this new on-trend look I kept it simple:

5. Glam’ Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in Sun Safari

Before adding make-up to my face I always prep with moisturizer. I have a lot of sun damage to my face especially on my forehead so I always add a concealer and then I apply liquid foundation with SPF to my entire face. I wanted to try the pressed powder because I’ve never really used a powder. I loved how light this powder was and it added a subtle lightness to my skin.

I next added bronzer to my cheekbones, forehead, nose and jawline. This is a staple in my make-up routine. Bronzer adds that sun-kissed glow and it’s a necessity when trying to achieve this look. I have to tell you that I was pleasantly surprised with this bronzer. It is lighter than the ones I already own and it has become a favorite. It’s light and adds the perfect amount of glow my skin needs. Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs a bronzer in their cosmetic bag, it’s not just for Summer ladies!

I next applied the eyeshadow. I love this sun safari quad combo, it’s perfect for my blue eyes and it gives the perfect shimmer. The neat thing about this product is that on the back it shows you how to apply it and with what complimentary products for a certain look. It also tells you what eye color it best suites, so if you’re not really sure what colors work best on you Rimmel has done the work for you. Because I was doing a day look, I only used the highlighting shade (bottom) and the two side shades. 
You can apply eyeliner next, I always tend to use a black or brown. This look would be great with a turquoise eyeliner but I went with what I know and purchased the black kohl liner. This eyeliner is seriously the best kohl liner I have ever purchased from any make-up line. It lines with ease and seriously last for hours. I lined my upper and flood line for a dramatic eye. With a nude look go for either a dramatic eye or lip. I prefer a dramatic eye. Apply mascara next. 
 Apply a nude lipstick. I always make sure there’s a little foundation or powder on my lip as base.  This lipstick lasts long and it’s the perfect nude shade. 

 Lastly, apply a lip gloss. I chose a clear to give that perfect sheen but you could easily choose a complimentary nude shade to enhance the color. I love this lip gloss, it’s not sticky like other brands and again light which is perfect for the warm Summer days.


Because we were going to an early dinner as a family I went for a more dramatic look on my eye but if I were going out for errands with the kids I would skip the black eyeliner and just apply a thin coat of mascara. 


Whatever you are trying to achieve this Summer Rimmel London has created the perfect products to help you obtain that sun-kissed nude look! Follow Rimmel London on Instagram for fun beauty tips!