What’s Hot this Holiday #ChosenByKids #TheList

October 12, 2015

This post is sponsored by Acorn Influence. All opinions are my own.

A few months ago I got to attend a fun even hosted by Walmart called the “Chosen by You Expo“. I got a sneak peek at toys, electronics, clothing, and all kinds of gifts that will be available this season in Walmart. I felt like a kid visiting Willy Wonka with all the toys around and I saw a ton of toys I know Connor is going to love too! I’m going to share with you some of my favorites from the event and give you a head start on what’s HOT this holiday season.

Lets start with the toys:

As you can see Elsa is back in a big way! Everything Frozen…I think back to when my sister and I were around this age. We would have just died over this Disney Frozen Elsa Castle. With the press of a button on top of the castle the icicle chandelier spirals down. The castles also grows taller by the crank on the bottom. Don’t forget Sing-A-Long Elsa Too!

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Then there is the Disney Doc McStuffins Pet Vet Checkup Center. Connor loves this show and this is so cute. I can see lots of future veterinarians in our future. For toys that is 🙂

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Of course no clinic would be complete without a Cuddles & Hugs Talking Lambie.

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Now, this my dear friends in ON MY LIST. Connor is obsessed with Legos right now. This 3DIT Character Creator Molding Machine lets you create your own custom figures. Mold them, choose stickers, and design.

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If you have a little girl and she gets scared in the dark this Minnie is so cute! She lights up in all different colors. Press the heart on Minnie’s hand again to lock the design and hear Minnie sing the hit song, “True Colors.” BBP_3882

Game night sure will be fun with Pie Face!

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The ULTIMATE Hot Wheels Garage

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Bake your very own Girl Scout cookies in this Girl Scouts Cookie Oven. I tried one of the Thin Mints and it was delish! BBP_3890

Here are some other toys we got to take a peek at:

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Now lets move on to co-workers and friends. What do you give someone in your life who you see every day and want to let them know you care this holiday? Here are some ideas for you that won’t break the bank. All items are available at Walmart stores nationwide.

Ahem…Coffee lovers unite! This Starbucks cocoa gift set is perfect for friends and family!

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For the guy who likes to grill. This Jim Beam set is packed and ready to go with everything needed for a yummy BBQ. BBP_3894

These “Movie Night For 2” packages are sooooo cute! Everything ready to watch your favorite flick with some popcorn and candy. BBP_3895

Chocolate…yes please! Ghirardelli gift sets are so yummy and good stocking stuffers too. BBP_3896 The “techie” in your life needs things too right? I have a few of those in my family. Here are some great gift ideas for the gamers and the guys who just can’t deal with losing their remote.

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Meet the gaming chair. I’m pretty sure my husband would never leave the house if he had something like this…but he would love me forever. Ha! Now you can not only hear your music but actually feel it. Whether you are listening to music, watching a movie or playing a game.
Input and output jacks allow connection to your audio source and to other X Rockers for multi-player games. Wireless receiver is built-in; includes wireless transmitter to send audio from any source with headset. BBP_3924 BBP_3925

Terence and I both jumped on the Fitbit train about 6 months ago and we love them. They keep us accountable during the day and we compete against each other to see who can get the most steps in each day. Come New Years Eve you’ll be wanting this gadget to help you reach your fitness goals 🙂
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I love Nikon. I shoot with Nikon. And this is a great camera at an even greater price. It’s brand new and perfect to capture those every day moments, or if you are ready to dabble in photography. BBP_3933 BBP_3934 Let’s talk fashion now ladies. I mean I want to look great, you want to look great. Let’s all look fabulous mmmmkay? Here are some fun looks for everyone in the family.

Character jammies for the boys

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Super hero shirts for the guys

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Love this wallet and it comes in so many colors and designs. It’s only $6.97 too! BBP_3912 BBP_3913

I can’t imagine ever needing a makeup brush again. This makeup brush kit is an awesome stocking stuffer for teenage girls. It’s pink and has 24 pieces in an easy roll-up design. BBP_3917

Holiday leggings! I would totally wear these…and dress my entire family to match. Just sayin. BBP_3942

Flannels are hot right now. So many different shirts and only so many days of the week…sigh. BBP_3945

Everyone needs an adult Minion onesie right??? BBP_3946

This sweater is SO soft! I couldn’t stop touching it. #cozy BBP_3947

Aaaaand last on my favorites list is this Coca Cola Mini Can Fridge. So cute and perfect for a game room, college dorm, or just because. BBP_3955

I hope this helps you out. If you’re like me & you run around like a chicken with your head cut off looking for things to buy at Christmas. Well, not this year. That is not going to be me.

So tell me…

What’s on your favorites list this for this season?

Celebrate the True Spirit of American Beauty with @Almay #SimplyAmerican

September 30, 2015

This post is part of a collaboration between Almay and SheKnows. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We had a great weekend at the Texas State Fair. There is just something about the start of the Texas Sate Fair that says “fall” even if it is still 95 degrees outside.

This year I had the best time visiting the Almay bus at the fair. I had a chance to spin the wheel of prizes, get a mini makeover, and recharge my phone on the patio and relax.

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Michelle and I chilling on the patio

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Almay has proudly announced its collaboration with the USO, the only military non-profit organization that has supported our troops and families for more than 70 years. Almay will honor the women of the U.S. military and veterans, and focus on troops as they transition from service back to their communities.

I got my picture taken at the “kissing booth” and put on the big American flag.

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This summer, Almay embarked on the ultimate road trip, creating a custom, Simply American experience that will stop at venues such as state fairs and other festivals. Almay will offer make up touch ups and celebrate the people, places and occasions that best exemplify the American spirit, including service women, veterans, military wives and their families. This means so much to me because we are a former military family. Terence and I lived on base for almost 6 years right after we got married 🙂

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The Almay Simply American bus tour is going out with a bang on October 3rd, making its last stop at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Texas peeps check it out! I know a lot of friends who are going to the Music Festival, so don’t forget to stop by the bust and get your free makeup touch-ups with Almay makeup artists, Almay product samples, and giveaways!

Makeup samples from Almay BBP_7585 Here is my makeup artist and my makeover- makeover selfies 🙂

She put the most moisturizing lipstick on me. My lips are always dry, so I loved this! She also wrote down all the products we used so I could take it home. #score BBP_7604

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Share your #SimplyAmerican beauty photos for a chance to have it featured on Almay’s hub page HERE. In addition to contributing $250,000 to the USO, Almay will also donate $1 for each approved share, up to $10,000 max donation until 10/6/15.

Find all the stops for the Almay Simply American tour HERE.

Follow on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram

Just for kicks I’ll share the WORST picture in America! Ha ha! I actually suggested we ride the dizzy ladybug roller coaster at the fair. I can’t tell you how thrilled we all were to be on it. I look like I have whiplash (because I did!) that ride spins you so hard I could barely stand to get off! Poor Connor’s face….oh my goodness! Terence just kept telling me to stop screaming…these are the memories life is made of. Histerical.

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Pumpkin Crumble Cake #LoneStarEggs

September 28, 2015

This post is sponsored by Lone Star Eggs. All opinions are my own.

I shared with you a while ago about Lone Star Eggs. Well, today I’m going to share a yummy fall recipe featuring Lone Star Eggs found right here in Texas at my local Walmart.

Tis the season for everything PUMPKIN! So I thought I would share with you a delish recipe for pumpkin crumb cake.

Crumb topping

3/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
3/4 cup flour

In a small sauce pan, cook butter, brown sugar and salt over medium heat stirring constantly until smooth- about 6 minutes. Add vanilla and stir until combined. Remove from heat. Whisk in flour. Set aside and let cool

Cake

3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large Lone Star Eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, eggs and sour cream until smooth and well combined. In another bowl whisk together flour, and remaining dry ingredients. Slowly add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture mixing until just combined. Pour batter into 8×8 pan lined with parchment. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Sprinkle crumb topping over cake when cooled.

It should turn out looking something like this, mine crumbled a bit…but that is okay because it’s a crumb cake 🙂

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I love shopping at Walmart. They have everything all in one place. I also like to support local Texas businesses and foods that are sourced in our great state of TEXAS! I’m originally from Arkansas, which is actually where Walmart is headquartered. I married a Texan and now I’ve been here for over 8 years. Texans have major pride, and I’ll tell you something they are not ashamed to show it! That’s one of the first things I told my husband when we moved here.

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When I shop at Walmart I feel a little bit of home with me while living in Texas. I know that sounds silly, but it’s so true!

Now we are raising our own little Texan and we want him to grow big and strong! That’s why it’s so important to feed him good food. Lone Star Eggs are a great source of protein 🙂

08172010 Check your local paper October 18th for a coupon for $0.75 off a carton of Lone Star Eggs. It will be in the Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston and San Antonio area newspapers.

Lone Star Eggs is also giving away a year’s supply of eggs on their Facebook page and 52 other winners that will receive 1 dozen free eggs.

What’s in a Home?

September 22, 2015

I can’t believe it’s already a few months until Christmas. It seems like every year goes by faster and faster. Connor is really enjoying Kindergarten and it’s fun to watch him learn and thrive every day.

It’s taken me some getting used to our new schedule. For so long I worked full time and now that I’m not it’s hard to adjust. I know what you’re thinking….“REALLY Becky…you are complaining about having MORE time???” It’s just a new routine and I’m used to having something to do constantly and it’s in my nature I guess. I LOVE MY JOB. Thank you Jesus. Terence and I were both sick with what Connor had a couple weeks ago and everyone was so great about it. We’ve never really been a sickly family, but since Connor started school it’s like WHAM….bring it! We had a scare with Terence’s x-ray that came back needing further inspection. The next day Terence had a CT scan to rule out cancer in his lymph nodes. After a worrisome 48 hours we were relieved to find out it wasn’t cancer and it was a calcified something-or-other…..but nothing to be concerned with right now.

I am enjoying being able to pick Connor up from school and drop him off. Help with homework and hopefully go on field trips this fall. I’ve got to step up my game on cooking. I am not gifted in the kitchen. UGH. It’s like torture for me to cook a decent meal. Meal planning is so hard because I don’t eat a lot of meat, but the boys both like different things. It’s just three people so why should it be so hard to cook something??? It is though and it stresses me out. Is that normal?

Connor lost a second tooth at school today. He looks so cute with his little snaggle toothed mouth 🙂

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We are still house hunting. It’s been one of the most grueling processes. I am beginning to wonder if we should have sold our house to begin with….sigh. I’m ready for some space and a yard again. I just want some place we can roam, put up a Christmas tree, and get to know our neighbors. It’s hard in an apartment with kid who wants to bounce and run everywhere. (And leave tiny itty bitty Legos laying on the floor) I know God has the perfect place out there for us….I’m hoping we find it soon! Prayers would be greatly appreciated as we continue this process and we have to put a notice in on our lease soon.

A few weeks ago my best friend Ellen came to visit and the Sheraton hotel in Fort Worth hosted us for the weekend. It was SO much fun! We had a great visit and some fun retail therapy!

Sprinkles cupcakes 🙂

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The rooms were so nice. The Sheraton in Fort Worth recently remodeled and everything was exceptional. Down to the Starbucks in the lobby 🙂 BBP_6852 BBP_6856 BBP_6858 BBP_6860 BBP_6863 BBP_6865

I mean if we can’t find a house right now I can at least stay in an awesome hotel right?

And it was pretty awesome.

Red Robin’s Burgers for Better Schools + Enter to WIN a $75 Red Robin Gift Card!

September 17, 2015

All thoughts and opinions are my own. Red Robin information and gift cards have been provided by Red Robin.

UPDATE! WINNER IS : Melissa Droegemueller

We love Red Robin in our family and we visit at least a couple of times a month for their yummy burgers and fries. Burgers for Better Schools is an extension of Red Robin’s loyalty rewards program. Red Robin Royalty provides members with added perks when they dine at Red Robin restaurants throughout the year, such as granting every 10th item purchased as free, a free birthday burger, exclusive surprises and more.

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Burgers for Better Schools gives Red Robin Royalty members an opportunity to support local K-12 schools simply by dining at participating Red Robin restaurants and using their Red Robin Royalty member account.

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When a Red Robin Royalty member’s account is presented at the time of purchase, Red Robin will donate one percent of the total bill to their school of choice (excluding taxes, gratuities and gift card sales).

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Participating in Burgers for Better Schools is as easy as becoming a member of Red Robin Royalty. Red Robin Royalty members can sign up for Burgers for Better Schools on their account dashboard on Red Robin’s website or by visiting HERE.

If you are not already a Red Robin Royalty member, sign up for free and select your child’s school BEFORE your visit!

We are so excited to be supporting our school now that Connor is in Kindergarten this year. Growing up my Mom and Grandparents were all public school teachers. They do SO much for our kids and it feels nice to give back. It’s especially easy because you can enjoy a great meal and do the giving at the same time 😉

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Through the Burgers for Better Schools dashboard, Red Robin Royalty members can select their school of choice to receive support, and change their school selection at any time throughout the year. Members who have opted into Burgers for Better Schools can follow their progress in supporting a K-12 school of their choice on their Red Robin Royalty account dashboard. Details include individual contributions, how many others are supporting that school, and total donations raised by all supporters.

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At any time, Red Robin Royalty members can donate an additional sum to the school of their choice by using the credit card option featured on the Burgers for Better Schools homepage. Red Robin also makes it easy to help spread the word about the Burgers for Better Schools program at school, online and socially with a variety flyers, website banners and social media-friendly content in the online digital tool kit.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is the Gourmet Burger Authority, a place where families and adults alike can enjoy a great dining experience.

I meeeeeaaaaan….look at this yumminess!

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The first Red Robin restaurant opened in Seattle, Wash., in 1969, and now there are more than 500 Red Robin restaurants across the United States and Canada.

Red Robin is famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages.

My favorite is the peach tea 🙂 Connor loves the chicken nuggets on the kid’s menu.

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Red Robin is proud to offer fresh, high quality ingredients and every meal is made-to-order. Red Robin’s commitment to food quality includes Gourmet Burgers made with fresh, never frozen, all-natural, domestic, USDA-inspected beef; hormone free poultry and locally sourced produce that is hand-selected by its suppliers and freshly prepared in-house.

And who can forget dessert???

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To sign up for the Red Robin Royalty program and become eligible to support your local school through Burgers for Better Schools, visit HERE.

Follow Red Robin on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram for the latest and greatest news!

ENTER TO WIN A $75 GIFT CARD TO RED ROBIN TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL!

To Enter (LEAVE A COMMENT): “What is your favorite type of burger?”

Contest is available in US only. 18 years of older. Contest ends on 9/25/15

Friday Favorites Linkup: Fall Edition

September 11, 2015

Okay first off let me just say these past couple of weeks have been cray cray. I know I’m always saying that but darn it….life is CRAZY! Connor missed 4 days of school last week. He came home Monday from school with over 103 degree fever. Two Doctor visits later and we finally got a diagnosis after a blood test of pneumonia. Thankfully he’s back at school this week and things are somewhat normal.

Okay, so gals you know I love to share my favorites with you all. My lovely friend Kim and I are starting a link-up every Friday called “Friday Favorites”. You can share what you’ve been crushing on lately. I love to hear about what you are thinking too 🙂

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This week’s theme is FALL!!!

What are some of your fall favorites. Thank your LORD that tomorrow has a high of 83….please oh please let the weatherman be right for once.

Beanies. I love me some beanies in the fall….they are perfect for those days when you just don’t want to fix your hair and just throw it on and go. And you still look half way cute….right?

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Boo at the Zoo. Yes, it’s full of wild hoodlum children, but there is just something about getting out among the community and being a part of a fall event.
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The Goldbergs. My favorite TV show. I love Beverly and can’t wait for all my fall shows to come back on. I can’t wait to see what Beverly does to embarrass her kids and what she’s scheming this season 😉 1541

School supplies. I love everything related to back to school and I could spend hours looking at all the different pens, pencils, and notepads. I may have a slight stationary/pen addiction…. BBP_5771

These labels are from Mabel’s Label’s and we adore them. BBP_5767

I have the need to washi everything. I love this pumpkin washi tape from Silent Poetry Arts. Also, love pumpkin spice lattes, but here in TX I’m still enjoying my iced esspresso. BBP_6940

My friend Ellen came to visit me and introduced me to Charlotte Tilbury makeup. Oh my gosh y’all I’m in LOVE with this gold cream eye shadow. It doesn’t feel like a cream, it isn’t sticky. It’s a great shadow and perfect for fall!
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Halloween costumes. Connor tried on this dinosaur at Pottery Barn Kids. Sooooo cute!
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Here are the up-coming topics for the Fridays to come. We would love for you to join us and feel free to leave your link below 🙂 Happy weekend friends!

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An InLinkz Link-up

School Lunch Made Easy: Pearls Olives To Go!

August 28, 2015

This review is sponsored by Pearls Olives to Go! All opinions are my own.

It’s FRIDAY! This has been the longest week…maybe it’s because it’s the first week of school and it’s been packed full of new things. Getting up earlier, making sure everyone is dressed, and packing school lunches.

I’m not the best cook and I’m not one of those Mom’s who makes cute little characters out of bread, or cuts shapes out of fruit and things like that. I took Connor shopping with me to help pick out foods for his lunch box. I was looking for things that were healthy, easy to pack, and on-the go type foods.

We found lots of stuff, but something new caught my eye 🙂

If you haven’t seen this product on the shelves at your local grocer you probably will soon! It’s called Pearls Olives to Go! Now you can have olives without the mess!

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Pearls Olives to Go!, brought to you by Musco Family Olive Co., the leading branded supplier of table olives in America, is now in grocery stores nationwide as well as Target and Walmart. These single-serving, liquid-free cups are filled with delicious California-grown large pitted black ripe olives.

Pearls Olives to Go! grew even more popular with three new varieties in 2014: Green Pimiento Stuffed, Kalamata and Sliced Black Olives.