Wednesday, March 21, 2012

SmartStyleGuide.com

Do you ever feel like there just isn't enough time in the day?

Between taking care of my family, the house, and volunteering, it is hard to find time to take care of myself.   Even when I can find the time, I have a hard time finding the best products and styles.  I am not a fashion guru.  I won't be starting any trends anytime soon, so I need all the help I can get to find colors, shapes, and styles that work for my face shape, skin color, and lifestyle. 

Today I discovered SmartStyleGuide.com thanks to the people over at Sheblogs.org.  I've only been browsing for about 30 minutes, and have already bookmarked several articles that I want to go back to. 

Do you know how to look like a model in any picture?  I certainly don't!  (Which is why you won't see very many pictures of me here on my blog, facebook page, twitter, etc.)   SmartStyleGuide.com gives you seven quick and easy tips to make sure your next photograph is one that you'll want to show off.   

Are you looking for some new hair styling or removal products?  SmartStyleGuide.com has video reviews for several different Remington products from bloggers that I know and trust.   After Vera Sweeny's review, I might even be willing to try the Remington Smooth and Silky Epilator too! 

Spring is upon us, and I'm ready for a new hairstyle.  SmartStyleGuide.com has articles to help me find a hairstyle based on my face shape, my busy lifestyle, and all the latest trends.  I'm hoping to get in to see my hair stylist next week, and after reading these articles I think I might just come out with a whole new look that I'll love.

With simple and easy to understand articles, SmartStyleGuide.com is a great site for a busy mom like me.  It isn't overwhelming or filled with information and techniques that I won't be able to pull off.  Check out their site and their facebook page for some fun tips.  (You can also sign up for a chance to win a keratin therapy flat iron in the "Offers" section of the site.)  Have fun and go get FABULOUS!

*Disclaimer:  I may (or may not) receive a gift card for this post.  However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

"Sweet" Easter Treats

One thing my kids don't need . . . CANDY!
Another . . . Toys (especially cheap junky ones).
A third . . . Clothes!  (Grandma loves clothes shopping for my monkeys and spoils them like crazy.)

So, what should I get them to put in their Easter baskets?  I've been scouring the web to find some new ideas and haven't come up with too much.  As of right now, I think their baskets will include:
  • Books - They also have TONS of books already, but at least they are at an age where they read them over and over.  Besides, I can't ignore the educational value.  :o)
  • Piggy Paint - My girls love having their nails painted, but I can't help but worry that they end up eating too much of the polish.  Since Piggy Paint is non toxic, it just makes me feel a little more comfortable with their painted nails.  Right now I can't decide between Little Chick, Beach Bum, and Sea Princess gift sets though.
  • Barbie Clothes - My girls have too many Barbies to count, but they do love them and play with them nearly every day.  Unfortunately, most of the clothes that came with the dolls are starting to tear or fall apart.  The clothes that are in good shape are not very appropriate (IMHO).   When I've looked in stores, I haven't really found much that I have thought was cute, appropriate, and would last.  However, I've recently seen Barbie clothes on etsy that are much more modest and absolutely adorable.  I haven't ordered yet, so I can't speak for the quality, but it has to be better than the mass produced products in stores.   There are lots of sellers on etsy, but I personally like the look of the dresses from TheDesigningRose the best.
What are you including in your kids' Easter Baskets?

*Disclaimer:  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with Piggy Paint or TheDesigningRose.  I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

We love books!

We love reading!

We love Dr. Seuss!

Every time I read a Dr. Seuss story, I am amazed at the way he was able to introduce important and relevant topics into a storybook for children. His silly words and wild rhymes almost always seem to hold a deeper meaning for both children and adults. In honor of Dr. Seuss and Read Across America, I decided to send my kids to school with Dr. Seuss themed lunches for the latter half of this week. Did I change the world or the minds of my kids by doing it? I doubt it, but we sure did have fun. Here are some of the goodies my girls found packed in their lunches.


Hawaiian Punch Lemon and Berry Juice Drink has disguised itself as Pink Ink for my Yinks to drink. I was actually looking for Simply Raspberry Lemonade, but my store was out of it. I think the flatter surface of that bottle might be a little easier to work with.  The girls didn't seem to mind though.  They would ask for this to drink every day if I let them.  (Normally they only get 100% juice in their lunches.)


Could it get any easier than this? Colorful Goldfish crackers are just perfect for One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish!


Lunch just isn't a lunch without fruit. So, my girls got some Cat in the Hat hats made by alternating strawberries and bananas on a toothpick.


Blue Jell-O and a cute red Swedish Fish made a fun and tasty Fish in the Pot dessert for my girls. I thought about making my own Jello-O, but the pre-made stuff was even easier!


I REALLY wanted to do something Green Eggs and Ham, but had a very difficult time coming up with something. My girls don't really like real eggs . . . or ham for that matter. So, the cute eggs and bacon treat turned green. (Two pretzel sticks, a white candy melt and a green m&m are all it takes!) Green Eggs and Ham / Green Eggs and Bacon - It is almost the same.



I don't remember where I saw this one, but sometimes the easiest things are the most fun. My girls absolutely LOVED their Hop on Pop(corn).



I have always appreciated the message in the Butter Battle Book, both from a global and individual perspective. Because of that, I had to do something with it. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any amazing ideas to borrow and modify, and it was late at night so my creative juices weren't flowing. This was the best I could come up with, but at least the book and message made an appearance in their lunches.



I couldn't leave out the Grinch! Any meat will do for this one, but my girls prefer sandwich pepperoni as their roast beast.


One of the reasons that I love Dr. Seuss is that his words are so fun, free, and open to your own creativity. Schlopp could be just about anything (as long as there is a cherry on top!), so I chose granola (My girls love Bear Naked Vanilla Almond) with Yogurt and a Maraschino cherry on top. Peanut didn't end up eating hers because she didn't like the consistency of the granola. She said it was too mushy after sitting with yogurt on it all morning. Pumpkin ate all of hers though and actually requested it again the next day.



Trying to mix up the fruits, I made a rainbow of fruit on toothpicks as Truffula Fruits.


While Yertle the Turtle might not be the nicest turtle around, these adorable Yertle the Turtle breads were a huge hit! I got the recipe from Betty Crocker and modified it to make four smaller turtles rather than one large one. The turtles were still rather large for the girls to eat at lunch. Next time I think I'll try to make 8 instead. If you do make them smaller, be sure to decrease your cooking time. I didn't time mine. I just watched them and took them out when they looked golden brown.



Did you do anything fun to celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America?  I'd love to see/hear all about it!


*Disclaimer:  Ideas for these projects came from my own inspiration, various bloggers, friends, websites, etc.  I spent so much time thinking, searching, taking notes and modifying, that I no longer know who deserves the original credit.  If you know the originator of one of these ideas and would like me to mention them here, please send me a message and let me know.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.