Favorite sampling yet!

This month, I got selected to sample old navy activewear--a huge bonus as I had just completed the dress sample last month!! This one was my favorite yet! I was super stoked to be selected for this one-I am currently 5 1/2 months pregnant with my fourth (!!) baby boy. prior to becoming pregnant, I lost 40 lbs due to a change in diet (mostly dropping/decreasing soda intake and making smarter choices at meal time) and occasional bike rides with my darling hubby. Due to the weight lost, I just started showing this pregnancy late last month (my previous 3 you could tell in month 2!!). My mom has lost over 100 (!!!) lbs by healthier eating and a crazy amount of exercise--she goes hiking almost every sunday (some local trials and, yes, mountain trials as well) with her husband (who is an avid runner) among other activities. So when my notification for this sample came in my email, I called up my mom right away! We couldn't wait to get cute workout wear to help us look awesome on our healthier lifestyle journeys! We went to Old navy in blackstone valley on a crazy shopping day--the day before christmas eve. we were so impressed by all the choices we had to pick from. They had yoga pants, capris, compression pants, super compression pants, shirts, jackets, jackets with fleece, so many different choices!! We each picked out a couple different styles to try on (hers in mostly blue hues, mine in purple!) and headed for the fitting rooms.

Playing around in the fitting room

Showing off our final choices!

After trying on every item, we picked out an outfit each. and I must say--we look STYLING! :) Who knew work out clothes could be so cute?? They are literally the most comfortable work out clothes I've ever owned or even tried on. I've been constantly wearing them around the house, and I can't wait to put them to the real test this spring. A HUGE thank you to Old Navy and Crowdtap for selecting me for this sample!!!

New Fall old navy dresses!!

Last month, I received the chance to review another old navy product--their new fall line of dresses!! I had seen the commercials for the dresses, so I was super stoked to be able to do this one. My mom and I headed the the store a few days before thanksgiving. The place was packed, as they were doing a buy one get half off EVERYTHING in the store sale!! It took us 20 minutes to find a place to park since it seems Christmas shopping started early!! There were even crossing guards directing traffic once you hit the blackstone valley plaza!! My mom and I had a really hard time deciding which dress we wanted--we each tried on at least 5!! I loved each one I tried, but finally decided on the pink and brown striped V neck sweater dress. Although a bring yellow striped one ALMOST won out :) Because of the sale, I went on a hunt for some leggings to go with the dress. A very friendly and helpful sales girl helped me locate them in my size and color--and of course, I had to buy two!!! The end result: I LOVE old navy dresses!! They are so comfy, and I looked great on thanksgiving! And priced at just under $30, they are a great deal! I highly recommend them. You can check out the other styles and colors here!

Blueberry ice, ice , baby!

Searching through pinterest, I saw a neat photo of some fruit ice to give your drinks a little flair. So I decided to try it out as my kids love fun things like that! I won a box of fresh veggies from a relative;s garden that included some yummy blueberries. I filled up the ice cube tray and tossed a few into each block:

 

 

 

Blueberries in water--yum!

I let them freeze for the night, ended up with this:

The kids were so excited to see these in their drinks! :)

Kool-aid, ice, and blueberries!

The best part was when they finished their drinks and the ice melted--they had some yummy berries to snack on! Although Topher pulled his out of the ice as soon as he was able to--my kids LOVE blueberries!!

Free Samples rock my socks...or my beach bag

DiYa corporation is giving away free samples of Beach bags! They are a commercial printing and promotional packaging company in china. If you like their facebook page here and are over 13 years old, you can receive a free sample of their beach bag! Here's the description:

Ready to try our quality products? You can request a free sample of our product: beach bag. Perfect for the beach and beyond, DiYA’s tote will have you wishing every day was summer. Polyester fabrication covers this water-friendly bag, which also boasts an outer slip pocket, inner zip pocket and detachable zip pouch. 

HUrry up and request yours while their are still some left!! :) i can't wait to try this product! 

reason #4 why crowdtap RULES!!!!

I've posted about crowd tap before (exactly four other times) and I'm sure this won't be the last time I do...but I just have to share how excited I am for all the opportunities I've gotten from them. I recently got selected to host a McCormick Grill Mates sampler party. When I got the mail today, my party kit had come in the mail. I was expecting some teeny tiny packets of stuff to try. What I actually got was pretty sweet!

Check out that sweet apron!!! :) And those teeny tiny samples I was expecting?? Those are all full sized products! My annual birthday bbq is going to be extra tasty this year!!! If you haven't signed up for crowd tap yet...WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? Here's a link to check it out: CROWDTAP

who wears short shorts??

I couldn't tell you the last time I willingly bought a pair of shorts. I've had quite a few pairs over the years, yet I rarely wear them. They are never comfortable and I feel like a whale! When crowd tap opened up the Old Navy short sampling, I thought to myself "This will be great!" Summer is coming and my favorite jeans are already feeling hot! I ADORED the dress I got around easter time. Old navy is really changing the way I dress and shop. I wasn't expecting to get selected this time, since I do not wear shorts often. I was happily surprised when I got the e-mail telling me I did! So I texted my assistant, telling her it's time to go Old Navy shopping again (she deserves much, if not all, the credit for my recent trying-new-things approach to not only my wardrobe, but my life!). To my surprise, there was actually quite a few styles I liked. I even had a hard time choosing between two designs (and ended up changing my mind right before check out!). They are hands down the most comfortable shorts I've EVER worn. And the plaid/flower patchwork designs are adorable! I am so glad crowd tap has given me to opportunity to try new things--i can't wait to wear these all summer long!!

Carrie and I trying on our shorts. I traded those in last minute for the purple pattern!

old navy dresses!

I got chosen for another crowd tap sample--this time, it was old navy dresses!! Just in time for Easter! I went to Old Navy in Blackstone Valley with Carrie. At first, I wasn't expecting much--Old Navy is my go-to for jeans and tees, I don't usually think of going there to get a dress. When we arrived, I couldn't believe how many different styles and colors they had to choose from! I ended up trying on 6 dresses. The shocker was that 5 out of the 6 actually looked cute on me! I ended up getting the ruffled jersey dress. It was the most comfortable dress I've ever worn, and the ruffles added a cute touch that I adore. The design is cute navy and white zig-zag stripes. I can't wait to wear it out! When we checked out, we realized the coupons I had been given had just expired the day before--d'oh! I didn't read it closely enough. But at $15 a dress, it was a steal and we both purchased them anyway. You can't beat that price, especially keeping in mind just how comfortable these dresses really are!! Anyone looking for a nice, casual dress, I would highly suggest checking out Old Navy :)

Daisy Blue

The week before Valentine's day, a good friend of mine had a ladies night out party. She sold some delicious treats, there was massages, foot soaks, and product demos from lia sophia and daisy blue. I went with my mom, my only goals being in good company and meeting new people, as my circle is quite small being so busy everyday. I ended up leaving with $30 worth of little chocolates and daisy blue items. For those who don't know what daisy blue is, it is a line of all-natual soaps, lotions, skin care, ect. ect. (Here is a link to my friend's sister in law's facebook site: Daisy Blue) Everything smells amazing! My mom and I tried or smelled every product on the table. I got a hand massage from the wonderful Sam using some of their essential oils. Heaven. I ended up purchasing a valentine's scented lotion bar (so neat, and smells so yummy!) and a shea butter soap. The shea butter bar came with my favorite item--banda beads! They are handmade bracelets made by singe mothers to support their families in the Banda-Acholi Ghetto, Uganda. They are made of rolled paper or magazines and so pretty!

The beads that came with my order :)

alien hot dogs

I'm always looking for things that are easy, cheap, and fun to make for my kids. One of my mommy friends posted a photo in our mommy group on facebook a photo of hot dogs cut up with pasta through them, before and after cooking. It looked weird and a little gross. In other words, perfect for my three little boys! So I decided to wing it. i boiled a pan of water. As it was boiling, I sliced up cold hot dogs and slid raw angel hair noodles through them.

I cooked according to the angel hair directions. This was the result:

It came out pretty good, the only change I would make is to use thin spaghetti instead of angel hair, as while the hot dogs were cooked, they weren't as hot as I'd like. The kids loved them--they dipped them in ketchup and had a ball!

Car shopping

My not-so-little baby sister need a new car. I'd say desperately after riding in it today. She wanted to go car shopping and asked me of all people to go with her. I've gone car shopping three times in my life. The first time I was 16 and had my daddy and pep take me, the other too times I went with my husband and he did all the talking. Needless to say, I was surprised that she asked me. She is a lot like me in the respect that we like to do important things with other people. I can just recently go to the store by myself, and I still don;t go alone if I can help it. I don't completely understand it, I just get terrified. When I began driving, I used to buy my step-brother Wendy's so that he would go on drives with me. My sister is not as extreme as I am--she can go shopping by herself! I'm pretty sure I helped at least a little....and I only embarrassed her once, which is basically a record. :) She's even letting me go back with her when she gets a down payment together--that's sisterly love right there!

 My sister and i are very different--

but nothing can beat the sister bond <3

Pinterest

I have a new obsession...a website called pinterest. members repin photos, crafts, articles, recipes, ect. that they love. A lot of women in my mommy group were in love and talked about it often. One day I said innocently "someone needs to send me an invite to that!" and that was it....hook, line, sinker. I have found so many crafts I want to make with the kids, food I want to try, home decorating I want to do, and organizing ideas I never would have thought of on my own. There is even an iphone app or it--though I have yet to download it. I spend too much time attached to the site without it being mobile! It literally amazes me to see how much cool stuff is out there.

My first pinterest project :)