Category: Family

Girls Night Out & Life Hacks with Tai Pei

This post was sponsored by Tai Pei and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Last week I had the best time gathering with a bunch of blogger friends in Dallas for a night of crafting, food, and fun!  The event was sponsored by Tai Pei asian foods.   Not only did we get to sample some of these fabulous entrees, but we learned some seriously cool life hacks.  

As a photographer I know my DSLR camera pretty well, what I don’t know are the nitty gritty basics I learned making a pinhole camera.  Our hostess with the mostess was Rachel Rushing.  Rachel showed us some pretty cool life hacks using our Tai Pei containers.

To make our pinhole cameras we each got a container and covered it with thick black tape so it’s totally light-proof. Then we cut a square on one side of the container and placed a piece of tin can behind the cutout in the box.   After poking a tiny hole in the tin piece we were ready to go outside and develop our photos with special paper, which we later developed.  The whole process was very interesting and now I know how to make a picture without an actual camera!  How cool is that?

We sampled several Tai Pei entrees, and  honestly I didn’t know what to expect because it’s a frozen dinner after all.  I was extremely impressed with the taste and the quality of the food.  Tai Pei frozen entrees come in several different flavors:

  • Beef & Broccoli
  • Chicken Chow Mein
  • Chicken Fried Rice
  • Combination Fried Rice
  • General Tso’s Spicy Chicken
  • Orange Chicken
  • Pepper Beef
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Sweet & Sour Chicken
  • Teriyaki Chicken

Let’s not forget about the dumplings either!

My favorite dish was the Chicken Chow Mein.

Not only did Rachel show us how to make a pinhole camera, she had several other projects that she showed us how to do as well.  Like a pinata fringed candle holder,  fire starter container (with dried kindling in it), and a concrete planter and vase.  We had an amazing time and now I know how to do some pretty cool things recycling everyday items- such as a Tai Pei container.

Concrete vase

Fringed pinata candle holder- please use a flame-less candle.

Tai Pei entrees are definitely something I will be serving our family in the future.  Not only did they taste great, but the ingredients were wholesome and filling.  I’m a super busy Mom and Wife and I’m always on the go and looking for an easy and fast meal, this definitely fits into our lifestyle.

Use the store locator to find where Tai Pei single serve is available near you (in the frozen food section).

GET YOUR TAI PEI COUPON HERE!!!

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Let’s Talk Babies & A Life Update

Hey Y’all!  It’s me…Becky…you know the gal who has been so busy I haven’t had time to write on here for a good while.  Remember me?

So, our house with “character” is in shambles again as we go through another small remodel project.  If you know me, then you know this is driving me nuts because I’m OCD about things being in their place….and a queen sized mattress has no place in our living room!  We are tackling projects one at a time as we can.  I have to say as much as I didn’t want a pool, we are LOVING the pool.   The backyard will have to wait, as we are currently finishing projects that are still inside the house.  I shared our before/after remodel project last fall when we bought the house…but there is still a lot left to do.  We are currently tackling the extra bedroom and Connor’s room, which we decided to switch around so Connor can have the extra space.  I can’t wait to share with you the new spaces soon!  The walls are getting re-texured and painted, with new baseboards and the built in is getting painted too.

I must say choosing the right color of gray has been a process.   If you have been following me on Instagram you’ll see the gray saga!  I know I’ve been on Instagram a lot more lately, but I promise I won’t abandon my blog…after 11 years as a blogger I go through highs and lows, but I’ll never abandon my little nook on the Internet.

We must have had close to 15-20 paint samples before we found the ones we liked.  We chose these paint colors, and you know the actual color is always so much different than the swatch.

Our next project will probably be our room and the master bathroom.  Whoever built this house back in the day decided it was perfectly fine to have ONE OUTLET in the entire master bath!!!  Hello Sonicare toothbrushes, electric razor, hair straightener, blow dryer, & curling iron???  That is going to be a massive project though and you know gosh darn it…money doesn’t grown on trees!

We love our neighborhood and couldn’t be more happy.  Not to mention the ice cream truck that comes every Thursday.  So, I know we’ll have things come up that need repairing, but all in all I feel like we won the lottery even getting a house in this area with the market the way it is.  Connor is in a great school and I can’t believe we’ll have a second grader next year!!!  The time sure does fly by…something I’m constantly saying.

Look at that squishy little baby!

If you haven’t heard through the grapevine….I’m going to be and Auntie!  My twin sister, Bonnie, who used to blog with me, is having a baby girl in October!  We are super excited about it and I am having the most fun buying baby girl stuff for Ella.  I can’t wait to meet my new niece, because basically she’s half mine right?  I mean we’re twins and everything!

The first time around we were both pregnant at the same time and our boys are 2 months apart.  They just LOVE each other and Face-time just about every day.  I’ve always been adamant about just having one child.  Then I get thoughts in my head like “I’m getting so old…clock is ticking Becky!” or “Will I regret only have ONE someday?”  

See, the thing is, Connor is old enough now that he will basically ask why he doesn’t have a sibling and when is he going to get one?  But I’m 36 and let’s face it I’m no spring chicken.  I go back and forth on this subject so much it just about gives me whiplash.  When I look back on my life what am I going to say is my great achievement….well of course it’s Connor.  He’s my baby, my son that God entrusted me with to raise and mold in the world.  There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this kiddo and I don’t want to look back someday and wonder if a piece of our family is missing or could have been?

I think it’s because everyone around me is popping out babies, but also because I’m feeling the peak age of bearing children creeping up on me.  Once that door is shut…it’s shut. Terence and I both like our “me” time.  We love being able to go places and do things at the drop of a hat.  Also, there is never enough money before you have kids and there’s never a right time either…but some how it always works out.  The thought of going back to having a baby makes me crave a venti cup faster than you can say “VENTI”!  The sleepless nights, breastfeeding, not to mention I don’t have anything baby-ish anymore.  I didn’t keep anything…I handed it all down or gave it away.

So, do you have thoughts on this?  If you are older now do you regret not having more kids?  If you have just one are you glad you did?  I’d love to hear what you have to say in the comments.

xo- Becky

Using a Party Bus for a Children’s Birthday Party

Planning a birthday party is something that gets easier as time goes on. When you’re in the midst of organizing a children’s birthday party, you’re usually surrounded by chaos! It can be tough to even take the time to sit down and get everything together when you’re in the middle of tasks at home or at work.

However, it’s always worth it to put forth the effort, especially when you consider how special your child will feel having had an awesome birthday party, regardless of their age.  One of the toughest things about planning a child’s birthday party is making sure that the entire group of kids is entertained. This becomes even more difficult when you have a diverse range of age groups that will be present at the party.

When you take a look online at party planning resources like Pinterest, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with all of the different options for decorations, activities, party favors, food, and overall entertainment. However, it’s important to stay realistic about the celebration, and keep in mind that children don’t pay attention to many of the little details that adults do. This will always work out in your favor as far as parties are concerned!

A great way to provide a venue for a party and simultaneously entertain a group of kids from all age groups is to reserve a party bus or a limousine for the festivities. We know what you’re thinking, this type of transportation is only reserved for crazy bachelor or bachelorette parties, right? Wrong! This is an extremely popular way to celebrate a child’s birthday party considering the different amenities that can often be found on board. The convenience of cup holders and counter tops on the road allows the kids to enjoy their food and drink without a mess. Plus, kids can’t get enough of the neon changing lights throughout the interior, as well as the booming sound systems with auxiliary cords. You get to customize your own playlist for the ride!

With a limo or party bus in Dallas, you can choose to visit different destinations, or you can ride around town enjoying each others company. You get to use your time as you please! This is a great way to keep all of the children in one place, and you can click here to get started with the reservation process.

Plus, most people aren’t aware of the fact that local transportation companies often find their chauffeurs from local school systems, so they’re used to driving while simultaneously keeping a watchful eye. You’ll be known as the coolest parent in town for reserving this type of transportation for your child’s birthday party in Dallas.

Summer in the Fast Lane

Summer in the fastlane people.  That’s how I would describe the last few weeks.  It’s been “CRAY CRAY”!!!

So, I will start off with a great occasion…we celebrated my Nannie’s 80th birthday in Arkansas.  She is the light in our family and I hope someday I can be just a small piece of what she is.  It was so fun to reunite with relatives we hadn’t seen in a long while.

We had a huge buffet, cake, and some great music!  We also had a wonderful ham from Petit Jean Meats. It was sooooo delish!

If I look even HALF this good at 80 I’ll be just fine with that 🙂

My sweet family

My Mom worked so hard on the party planning and all the food.  She made timeline boards with each decade of Nannie’s life and they were great.  (See that’s why you should always take photos…you never know!)

It’s so hot in Texas right now you could fry and egg on the pavement.  We had a great 4th of July with family.  We swam in the pool and BBQ’d.  Connor is enjoying his camp this summer.  I can’t believe school is starting up again so soon!  I’ve gotten so many back to school catalogs in the mail this week Ahhhhhh!!!!

Although I am secretly excited for fall weather.  That is my “season” y’all.  I’m headed to the Megaphone conference with friends in Arkansas soon.  It’s a great conference if you are a blogger or want to learn anything about social media.  You will also meet some great friends too!

I’ve been really busy with photo shoots lately and I’m on a summer reading kick.  I’ll link to some of my favorite summer reads so far. *If you don’t enjoy drama or romance- this ain’t for you*

Don’t forget to follow us on the daily on INSTAGRAM!  xoxo Becky

Summer Travel Prep + Enter to WIN! #SummerTravel #SickJustGotReal

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Connor and I just got back from a fun road trip to Arkansas!  We celebrated my Grandma’s 80th birthday.  We had the best time and got to see a lot of relatives we haven’t seen in ages.  I make the drive to Arkansas about 3-4 times a year and the only way I get through it is a book on tape (or whatever they are on now) and an iPad for Connor.

I remember the days of traveling when he was a baby.  One time Terence and I were headed home and Connor started getting sick all over the car.  We pulled into a gas station and Terence was just throwing paper towels at me saying “Get it I can’t look at it!”  Ha ha!  Oh yes…we’ve all been there a time or two.  I get crazy allergies when I go home too and I’m not sure why.  The last couple of times I’ve had to visit an emergency clinic.   All of this to say… PREPARE YOURSELVES PEOPLE!

I take our medicines and vitamins with us when we travel and it’s been a lifesaver at times.  I carry Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® for Connor.  I just pop them in a waterproof bag or you could use a plastic bag, and put them in my purse.

Now I don’t have to run around like a chicken with my head cut off looking for a pharmacy when sickness strikes us!  If there’s one thing I know from traveling is you cannot be too prepared.

WHEN SICK GETS REAL:

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  • For your child’s cough, trust Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief to control and relieve symptoms all-day or all- night. Available in grape or orange flavor, for children ages 4 and up. Please note, certain Children’s Robitussin® products are only suitable for children ages 6 and up.
  • Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free eases your child’s stuffy and runny nose, while quieting a bothersome cough. All in a great-tasting grape flavor that’s dye-free, for children ages 6 and up.

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Summer Fun with Fruit Shoot

It’s summer and Connor’s been in full speed camp mode.  He went to a great camp a couple of weeks ago on lake Grapevine and it was so much fun.  Also, can I just say how HUNGRY this kiddo is all the time?  He is constantly wanting snacks and drinks…but I guess if I had the energy level of a 7-year-old I would too!  One of our favorite snacks are Fruit Shoot® juice drinks.

Fruit Shoot’s resealable cap allows children more independence and is user friendly. The bottle is durable & won’t puncture easily like some pouch drinks we’ve tried before.  The best part is you can put the cap back on the bottle and drink later, you don’t have to sit there and drink it all in one sitting!

No matter what he’s doing he’s alway going to want a drink afterwards & we love Fruit Shoot drinks because they are so easy to pack+go.  Fruit Shoot comes in several different flavors: Fruit Punch, Berry Burst, Strawberry & Raspberry, and Orange.

I know it gets so hot here in Texas you can fry an egg outside and it’s so important to keep hydrated.  We found Fruit Shoot at our local Albertson’s grocery store.  They are also available at Walmart.

Follow Fruit Shoot on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Promises…Promises… Life Update

Yeah, remember how I said I was going to start posting a whole lot of awesomeness…cough cough….

Here we are!!!

So, I just turned 36.  That means I passed the 30 marker and am headed straight towards the 40’s freeway.  I’m feeling it too.  When people tell you things will start to fail you when you get older and you laugh it off at 25 years old….you just wait!  Terence also just turned 36, he’s two weeks older than me.  Ha ha!

One of those being “Why is weight sticking to me like literal butter?”

I used to eat LESS than I do now and it wouldn’t even phase me.  What’s happening???

Anyway, I decided to join the dark side again…hair color that is.

So far I’m really loving it.  It seems to grow faster and be all around healthier when I go back to my “roots”.  Although I love being blonde as well.

We’ve been swimming a whole lot and Connor started summer camp.  I love our confetti YAY ball!  Anything that sparkles or has confetti is alright in my book.

Connor and I are heading to Arkansas tomorrow bright and early.  This has been a super busy season in life and I keep telling myself to knock things off my list….and I’m going to.  The question is when?  In the meantime I’ll still keep on trucking along and drinking all the coffee- because it makes life so much more in focus right?

My Nannie is turning 80 and we are so excited to celebrate this milestone birthday with her.  I wish Ter-Bear could come, but alas he took a new job and doesn’t get vacay until December.

Any good books on Kindle I can listen to on my trip???

Speaking of trips a couple of months ago we got to drive this 2017 Mazda CX-3.  You remember I told you then whenever we have the joy of driving a new car for the week we always name it?  This one we named “SMURF“.

All the bells and whistles and display screen with backup camera, bluetooth, and navigation. 

This would be the PERFECT car if you are a commuter (gets great gas mileage) or have someone in your family about to start college.  

Plenty of trunk space too!  This Mazda CX-3 was super fun to drive and we can’t wait to review and show off more cars in the future.  Connor gets so excited when we get to try new cars and so do I.  I definitely get a better understanding of what to look for in a car for the future, and I get to show y’all what each vehicle is all about.  

Hope you all are having a great start to the summer!

Remember to keep up with us on the daily over at INSTAGRAM!

xo- Becky