Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Father's Day Gift Idea
featuring JORD Watches (+ a GIVEAWAY!)

This Father's Day is a little bit more sweet as our hearts are swelling with love for our new addition, Halo Love.  Watching my husband love on our baby girl has made me fall even harder for him.  It's so amazing to watch the way he parents with each of our four (!!) children.  With our kids' age gaps and personality differences, we've realized we can't possibly parent each of them the same way!

Our kids don't even realize how lucky they are (yet!) to have Marvin as a dad.  He's our protector, math homework guru, personal trainer, and grill master...sees the glass half full, believer, motivator, and Mr. Punctuality.

This Father's Day, Mr. Punctuality deserved a fresh new timepiece.  I've given him watches in the the past.  It all started with the watch I gifted him on the day of the 2012 NFL Draft.  As soon as he got the phone call from the Philadelphia Eagles, I handed him his new watch with a note attached that read "Just so you always remember the time that all your dreams came true".

But 5 years later, we have even bigger dreams...bigger prayers.

Marvin always encourages me and our children to set big goals, dream big, and pray bigger.  He's an amazing dad and deserves the best day ever and an amazing gift to remind him how much we appreciate him.

The kids and I decided that we wanted to give him a new watch for Father's Day and when we received his watch from JORD, we knew we couldn't wait until Father's Day to give it to him!  We picked out the Dover watch in Olive & Acacia.  It's a modern watch that shows the mechanical movement and is surrounded by a steel gray ring.  We knew that he would love it...and he did!  He's been wearing it every day since we gave it to him.

I'm obsessed with good packaging, so I also want to mention how amazing JORD's packaging is! Each watch comes in a stunning cedar box and there's even a little drawer to hold a note.  JORD watches are classic, lightweight, unique and a perfect gift for the man in your life.  They also carry beautiful women's watches.  I have one and always receive so many compliments when I wear it!

My friends over at JORD are going to give one of my readers a $100 gift code to use on the JORD website, so you can experience one of their stunning timepieces!!  All you need to do is follow this giveaway link, fill out your name and email address.  That's it!  And just for entering, we are going to give you a $25 gift code once the contest has ended.  Contest ends on 6.25.17. Good luck!

Luxury Wooden Watch

Friday, April 28, 2017

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is just a couple weeks away and I can't believe I'll be celebrating my FIFTEENTH Mother's Day this year! I feel so blessed to be a mom and to have such an incredible mom that I look up to, along with other strong females that God has placed in my life.

It can be hard to come up with fun gift ideas for mom, so I've rounded up some of my favorite gifts to help you out! How cute is that sweatshirt for the strong women in your life?  And those leather earrings that are pictured below...I've been wearing those on repeat! If you follow me on Instagram, you know I just discovered aha hand crafted leather earrings. They have an array of gorgeous earrings, as well as other jewelry. You can choose different styles, colors, and sizes to fit your personal style, so it's easy to find something mom will love! I've also been completely obsessed with their suede chokers and this newly released color, rosette, is even prettier in person!

You can find the direct links below to some of my favorite gift ideas for the special mamas in your life.
Have fun shopping, friends!

 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Happy Birthday, Marzy Boy!

My Marzy Boy is TWO years old!  Like every mom, I just can't believe how quickly these last two years have flown by.  This little Menace, as we lovingly refer to him as, has brought us so much joy.  The Lord (as always) knew exactly what He was doing when he blessed us with Marz!



We celebrated by having a taco TWOsday fiesta featuring his favorite meal: burrito bowls with a huge scoop of guacamole.  This kid is the best!

Every single day Marz makes us laugh straight from our bellies.  Everyday he has a ball in his hand.  Everyday he yells for "PHIA!" (Sophia) or "PAIR-YIS!" (Paris) and demands that his sisters "yook" (look) at whatever he's doing.  Everyday he plays with Mater, Lightning McQueen, and Mack from the movie Cars.  And everyday he makes my heart burst with so much love.

He's obsessed with his daddy, the puppy that lives behind us, passing the ball, Disney's Cars, and his binky.  He still comes to me for snuggles when he's tired and reaches up to touch and rub my face just as he did when he nursed as an infant.  I will be so heartbroken when he stops.

Marzy Boy can recognize most letters, but refuses to sing the Alphabet Song.  He can recognize most colors, but some days everything is "blue". :)

He is at such a fun age with his expanding vocabulary and curiosity.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings and to watch him as a BIG brother.  We all love you so much, Marzy Boy.
Happy Birthday, Menace Marz!

Monday, March 6, 2017

Third Trimester with Baby #4

I can hardly believe that I'm already a full week into my third trimester with baby girl!  I have done way less documentation of this pregnancy - life has just been so busy with the girls activities and having a crazy toddler running the show.  I've been trying to be in the moment and enjoy my final pregnancy, but to be honest I'm so exhausted, the aches and pains are slowing me down, and I'm ready to meet baby girl!!  But we still have a crap ton of things to get done before her arrival! 

Here's a little update on my pregnancy...

How far along: 29 weeks

Gender: Girl :)

Weight gain: I have NOT even kept track this pregnancy. It's my last time "eating for two" and I'm taking full advantage.

Maternity clothes: Mixing and matching maternity clothes with my regular clothing that is stretchy or flowy.

Sleep: Sleeping sucks. I've been super tired in the afternoon and napping with Marz, but then can't sleep at night.  Last night Marvin was out of town, so I had every pillow to myself which made me sleep like a baby.  A newborn baby...knocked out for a few hours and then wide awake until 4am.  I made the most of it though by doing some online shopping for baby bows - hashtag: productive.

Best Moments: We just ended show choir competition season with Sophia and it has been a blast! It was our first year of show choir and it was a joyous whirlwind. I think I'll do a short blog post about what I learned in our first year. :) Paris ended her last middle school basketball season, attended high school orientation (what!!), and started training for track season! Marz has gone to my last couple of prenatal appointments and our doctor lets him turn the heart doppler on and off, so he thinks he's pretty much hot shit.  He still doesn't acknowledge that there is a baby in my tummy, so I'm hoping that by attending my appointments he comes around soon!

Baby movement: TONS!

Cravings: Fruity candy - Trolli gummy worms are giving me LIFE, slushies, and yogurt

Looking forward to: Naming baby girl! We've decided on her first name, but we are still undecided on a middle name.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Fruit Infused Water

We've been struggling with illness at our house, so it was perfect timing when I discovered the new Sassy Fruit Infuser Cup for Marz.  Marz prefers to drink ice water over anything, so I figured adding some fruit to help boost his immune system would be a great way to keep any more illnesses away! Infusing water provides a little sweetness and flavor which makes it easier to get in your recommended water intake.

The Sassy Fruit Infuser Cup comes with a cute infusion basket shaped as a strawberry.  The basket holds 1/4 cup of fruit and you can place it in the freezer to keep your water cooler for longer.  The lid to the cup is designed so that your child can drink from anywhere around the rim. We haven't had any trouble with leaks or spills with this cup - my boy definitely put this cup to the test (hashtag: Menace Marz).

You can get really creative with your fruit blends!  Here are a few of our favorites:

You can purchase the fruit infuser cup here. Or if your little one already has a favorite cup, you can also purchase the infuser basket separately here.

If you have any flavor combinations that you love, please share with us!

This post is in partnership with Sassy, however all opinions are our own!

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Being Present + Spending Quality Time in 2017
&
A Giveway With JORD Wood Watches

One of my resolutions for 2017 is to spend more active and quality time with my husband and children.  With busy schedules, phones, and electronics we've been missing out on being present with one another.  I often use my phone for the clock on it which can then lead to a quick peek at Instagram or Snap, texts, and then answering a few emails...soon I look up to realize I've wasted so much time.  Please tell me I'm not the only one!

So, I was so excited when JORD Wood Watches sent me one of their unique women's watches! Gone are the days of getting distracted by glancing at my phone for the time.  I can put my phone away and spend the much needed quality time with my family!  I've been wearing my watch non-stop and I am in love with the design, comfort and all the compliments I've received while wearing it! I have the Frankie 35 in dark sandalwood and mint.  Each timepiece from JORD is created with luxury in mind and each watch is one-of-a-kind and functional.  I have about five more wood watches on my wish list right now!

My watch is super lightweight, so I am able to wear it without it getting in the way of my crazy toddler and when I want to give it more flair, I can stack jewelry around it without feeling weighed down.

JORD also has some beautiful and timeless men's watches.  Marvin has his eye on a couple and I think it would make the perfect Valentine's Day gift!  Along with JORD's gorgeous timepieces, their packaging is just as dreamy.  JORD makes giving the gift of time so simple and an easy decision!  Each watch comes in a stunning cedar box and there's even a little drawer to hide a love note in! ;) Or if you're looking for something extra special, they have some really impressive engraving options.

My friends over at JORD are giving away a $100 credit to JORD for one of my readers - just in time for Valentine's Day or to start you off on the right track for 2017!!  The contest will close on January 29th at 11:59pm, so be sure to enter before time runs out ;) by following this giveaway link!  All you need to enter is your name and email address AND just for entering, you will be gifted a $25 credit to JORD once the contest has ended!

Watch Gift Ideas

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Snacking with NurturMe

We have been very indulgent with our sugar consumption during the holiday season and now it's time to get our act together! We've partnered with NurturMe to bring you a few quick ideas for snacking or meal time with their Quinoa Squares.

I've been using NurturMe since Marz was around 6 months old. Some of his favorites were the Yum-A-Roo Snacks. They're organic fruits and veggies that have been quick dried to lock in and maintain essential nutrients. We have also used the Power Blend Purees which are packed with superfoods and awesome flavor combos! I always feel good when I can provide him with a delicious and healthy snack. They're also so easy to bring along when traveling or for a distraction when you have a baby third wheel in tow for date night!

Now that Marz is a toddler, I was excited to try out the Quinoa Squares. The squares are dissolvable puffed crackers loaded with so many health benefits, and they're made without any added sugar or preservatives. They come in three flavors and are made with 100% quinoa.

These crackers can be served and eaten straight out of the bag, but here are some additional ways we've incorporated the Quinoa Squares:

Snack time: Cheddar + Broccoli Squares with Hummus

Snack time: Sweet Potato + Apple + Cinnamon Squares with Yogurt & Kiwi

Meal Time: Pineapple + Spinach Squares with Cheese Cubes, Blueberries, Green Beans & Whole Wheat Bread with Almond Butter

Marz has been loving anything that he can dip, so lately I've been coming up with healthy dip options to sneak in food he would normally push off his tray, hashtag: eyeroll. These Quinoa Squares are perfect when you're looking for one more side to include for meal-time, or all alone for a filling and nutritious snacks. NurturMe has a nice range of healthy, convenient, and delicious products for infants and toddlers.

This post was in partnership with NurturMe, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy 2017!

Happy New Year! I'm dusting off the ol' blog this year and have some really exciting things in store, so I hope you all continue to follow along on our journey! 

We recently announced that we are expecting again! Our baby is due in May which makes me almost 20 weeks along.  It's our last baby, so I'm trying to savor every moment of pregnancy - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  It's been tough because I've been really sick with this babe.  I'm hoping that we are done with the nausea and throwing up part...it's been a week without any action, so I'm crossing my fingers!

We spent our New Years Eve with our kids and surprised them with a gender reveal at midnight! We had an ultrasound last week and asked the technician to put the baby's gender in an envelope. We took the envelope to our favorite cupcake shop, That One Cupcake Place and asked them to fill the cupcakes with either pink or blue frosting depending on the information inside of our envelope.

We partied hard with snacks, fire ice cream, dance parties and sparkling juice while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. 

I swear the only thing that kept me awake until midnight was knowing that I would be finding out if our baby was a boy or girl! After predictions, a loud and wild countdown, we took giant bites of our cupcakes and found out we are having a...BABY GIRL!!!

I am so excited for this blessing and cannot wait for her to get here! She is already so fiercely loved.

I'm ready for all the opportunity and blessings that 2017 is going to bring to our family.  We have a lot of exciting things happening!
God bless you and your families, and Happy New Year!