Category: Family

Friday Favorites

Oh my gosh how time is flying this summer!  We are still house hunting and I’m secretly hoping we can find something by at least Christmas.  I want a place to put my Christmas tree!  Connor and I were at Walmart last night and all the school supplies were out in full force.  I can’t believe my baby is going to be in KINDERGARTEN!  I know….stop whining about it Becky!

A couple weeks ago one of my favorite boutiques, Evy’s Tree, was having a MAJOR sale and I got up early to see what all the fuss was about.  I’m glad I did because they sold out quick.  They have the softest, most comfy, adorable hoodies and sweaters ever!

I scored this Diana Wrap for 1/3 of the price and I love it!  I can’t wait until fall….pit stains and the heat are for the birds.

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I also recieved this beautiful rose gold heart necklace from my FabFitFun box.  I’ll be sharing more about all those goodies later 😉

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When Connor and I were out at Walmart last night he found a phone for $2.50. He’s been on it ever since calling his friends and taking “selfies” with me….I have no idea where he gets that from??? Ha ha!

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I also got an email today about Amazon’s BIG HUGE SALE coming up on July 15th.  It’s supposed to be better than Black Friday.  We shall see about that Amazon….we shall see.  If you don’t have a Prime Membership you can get a free trial right now for 30 days and get FREE shipping on ANYTHING!

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I ordered this bag from Barrington Gifts a few weeks ago and I find myself throwing everything in there, including my big honking camera and it all fits! It’s very light and I like how you can customize your own bag to fit your style.  I picked navy with orange polka dots, because like I said I am a fall gal.

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My parents came to visit from Arkansas over the 4th of July and we had a short, but sweet visit. My poor Mom had her arm still in a cast. She broke her right wrist and it hasn’t been fun 🙁 We have a new Dave & Buster’s that opened right next door to our apartments so we visited there and the Cheesecake Factory. I am already looking forward to our next trip home.

Here are some 4th of July pics:

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Happy July!

Okay…so we have like 6 months until Christmas just so you know!!!

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I’ve been reading a ton of books on my Kindle lately.  I love a good romance.  Have any of you read something you would recommend?

We also tried out a new church this past Sunday and really liked it.  Just look at my boys before church this past week.  I know they are pretty handsome right?

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Connor has been playing Legos non-stop.  He just recently took an interest in them and he’s been building like crazy.  I love to see how excited he gets and his imagination runs wild.
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I made this recipe last night from a site called Budget Bytes.  It was really good!  I like how the author prices out the recipe and then prices it out per serving.  Clever!!!

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What are y’all up to this 4th of July?  My Mom and Dad are coming to visit us tomorrow and I’m soooooooooo excited!!!

Summer Entertaining with Charmin #TweetFromTheSeat #IC #ad

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Charmin. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All content and thoughts are my own”

Summer is in session and people it is HOT out there!  I’m a fall/winter gal myself, but the one thing I do love about summer is vacations.  My Mom is a teacher, so she has the summers off and I get excited for my parents to come visit us.  They live out of state, so it’s extra special when we get to see each other.

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We just went through a big move from our house of six years to an apartment.  It’s been interesting I must say and one thing moving forces you to do is purge and re-evaluate what you really DO need in life.  We don’t have as much storage in the apartment right now so I only keep the essentials on hand.  One essential I keep stocked is Charmin toilet paper.  You never ever want to run out of toilet paper.  It’s like being stuck on a deserted island. Especially when entertaining guests…it’s so embarrassing knowing your guests felt uncomfortable because they ran out of toilet paper!  Been there….done that….not fun.

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I like to stock extra Charmin toilet paper in a cute container on the back of the toilet seat.  It’s handy and your guests can easily find it there.  I also like to put out pretty hand soaps.  They smell great and make your bathroom feel personalized and welcoming.

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Charmin’s clog-free guarantee ensures that your plumbing will run smoothly so you can enjoy your summer without worrying about how many people are using your bathroom.  Charmin and Roto-Rooter, America’s largest provider of plumbing & drain services, have teamed up again this year to remind consumers of the clog-free and septic-safe guarantee that only comes with Charmin. Roto-Rooter plumbers recommend Charmin more than any other brand.

When we have guests over they share the same bathroom that our 5-year-old does.  Can I just say a 5-year-old boy goes through a TON of toilet paper!!!  Thank goodness Charmin is easy on our toilet pipes 🙂

Check out the video below with some of my favorite summer entertaining tips.  Also, check out Charmin deals and coupons on Facebook & Twitter.

How’s Life Treating You? A Little Update on What’s Going On…

I haven’t done a whole-hearted life update in awhile. Well, as you all know we sold our house.  The same home we brought Connor into and nurtured him for the first 5 years of his life.  It was a great home.

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We put it on the market on a Friday and accepted an offer on Sunday. It all happened so fast it seemed like a whirlwind. After our house sold we put numerous offers in on homes and even got an offer accepted on a house we really liked. After inspection and some hard thinking we decided it wasn’t the one for us. It was more than we really wanted to spend and it wasn’t in our desired school district for Connor.  The market is crazy right now and it’s definitely shifted to a sellers market.

So, here we are a month later and we’ve settled into our 3rd floor apartment.  Yes…THIRD FLOOR!  I’m hoping by the time summer is over I’ll have a nice firm bod from climbing all these stairs.  (We’ve lived on the 3rd floor before, but we were about 10 years younger then!)  My body hurt after this last move!  Thank goodness for our movers they were like little sherpas and so thankful for them.  The apartments are very nice, it’s just such a change from being in a single home.  We have a pool and a gym and everyone has been great so far!  I like having no maintenance and feeling free of being tied down.  In that aspect it’s nice, but I am hoping we find a house in our desired area by Christmas or sooner.  Trying to teach Connor not to yell, jump around, & be mindful of our neighbors is another story…..someone send wine!

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I got some fabulous new glasses from Firmoo a few weeks ago.  I’ve been wearing glasses more lately because my allergies and my eyes aren’t friends.  Don’t I look super smart and all?  Subscribe to Firmoo’s mailing list and get 15% off your first pair of glasses!

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I ordered some new business cards for my photography.  I think they turned out fab.  I designed them myself.  I am looking for a few graduating seniors in the DFW area to take pictures of to add to my portfolio.  If you have a senior graduating or know one email me at beckylbranch@gmail.com 🙂

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Speaking of photos, I snapped these of my boys a few weeks ago and love them!  We had a great father’s day & are so thankful for our Ter-Bear.

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The cutest class I ever did see!  I just love this board of “When I Grow Up I Want to Be…”BBP_2569

Connor said he wanted to be a soldier and that melted my heart.  His Dad was a soldier and I think it’s so sweet he wants to be like his Daddy.BBP_2561

So…here’s to things finally calming down.  As life takes turns knowing God is always there beside us 🙂

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When You Just Have to Know: First Response #IC #ad

“I participated in a Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for First Response. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

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Looking back at my pregnancy with Connor it amazes me how quickly everything flew by. We tried for quite a while to get pregnant with that little guy!  I was sooooo sick with morning sickness I could barely keep anything down.  I was also so incredibly tired all the time.  I guess that is God’s way of preparing your body to become a walking zombie once that baby is born!  Ha ha!

I remember the day I found out I was pregnant.  I went after work to get a pedicure and I just couldn’t STAND the smell in the nail salon.  I knew something was off because I started feeling dizzy and restless.  I thought to myself “I really have to stop drinking so much coffee!”  I kept a bunch of pregnancy tests at home just in case I needed them.  I went home after I left the nail salon and took one while Terence was in the shower and OMG….it was POSITIVE!!!

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I remember feeling excited and scared and wanting to know FOR SURE that it was indeed positive.  We drove to the drug store that night and picked up about four or five more pregnancy tests.  When you think you are expecting so many things are running through your mind and all you want is reassurance.  Thank goodness for First Response Early Result Pregnancy Tests.  It’s FDA approved and detects pregnancy as early as six days before the day of your missed period.  First Response Pregnancy Tests have been re-designed to fit a woman’s hand and have a 50% wider tip and longer handle.

 

I didn’t find out I was pregnant with Connor until I was almost 8 weeks.  I would have loved to have known sooner.  First Response Early Result Pregnancy Tests are easy-to-read & you get results in 3 minutes with over 99% accuracy from the day of the expected period.  I can tell you those 3 minutes feel like forever, but there is nothing more exciting than seeing those two little pink lines 🙂

And in the end you get this beautiful little person to bring home and love.  There is nothing in the world like it.  The sooner you find out you are pregnant, the sooner you can start taking care of your body & preparing for the changes to come.  Thanks to First Response Early Result Pregnancy Tests for giving Moms that little bit of extra time….because every second counts!

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Available at all major drugstores.  Click HERE to get a $2.00 off coupon today!

Beat The Heat This Summer- My Favorite Salsa Recipe #bringtheheat #mezzetta

Thank you to Mezzetta for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try your delicious peppers!

I’m ready to bring the HEAT this summer with Mezzetta peppers!

Mezzetta peppers come in all different varieties and can be found at your local grocery store:

Whole Golden Greek Peperoncini
Deli-sliced Golden Greek Peperocini
Deli-sliced Tamed Jalapeño Peppers
Deli-Sliced Hot Jalapeño Peppers
Deli-sliced Mild Pepper Rings
Roasted Red Bell Peppers
Hot Banana Wax Peppers
Sweet Banana Wax Peppers

Today I’m using the Mezzetta Diced Tamed Jalapeño Peppers to make one of my favorite recipes.  Summer salsa- I love to have this with chips, quesadillas, or tacos.

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Summertime Salsa Recipe:

Ingredients

  • 4 teaspoons Mezzetta Diced Tamed Jalapeño Peppers
  • 1/4 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
  • 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

Place the jalapeños and onions in a food processor. Process for just a few seconds. Add both cans of tomatoes, the garlic salt, cumin, and sugar. Process until everything is well blended, but do not puree. Place in a container, cover, and chill well before serving.

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I make this recipe all the time, mostly because it’s so simple and it’s GOOD!  I pour salsa on everything…it must be a requirement as a Texan.  It adds a refreshing kick to all my dishes.

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Right now you can enter to win a Summer Survival Kit HERE.

Mezzetta will be hosting a different giveaway each month for three months so you can win a Summer Survival Kit for yourselves!  You can also download a coupon to save $5.00 when you spend $25.00 on any Dixie® Plates, Dixie Ultra® Plates and Bowls, Vanity Fair® Everyday Design Collection, Mezzetta® Peppers and Olives, Banana Boat® sun care product 3 oz. or larger (excludes lip balm & trial sizes) and Wet Ones® Wipes.

What are you cooking this summer to beat the heat?

-Mezzetta Summer Survival Kit-includes Mezzetta Peppers, an apron and napkins.

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SPLENDA® Mocha Caramel Coffee #SweetSwaps, #IC and #ad

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the SPLENDA® Brand. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions and reviews are my own.”

Everyone that has been reading my blog for the past oh…TEN YEARS knows this Mama loves her coffee!  We just moved into our apartment for the summer and we are trying to eat better & make good choices.  Thanks to SPLENDA® Sweetener I have a yummy coffee recipe to enjoy this summer without the guilt.

I found this recipe on the SWEET SWAPS™ website.  If you’ve never been to SWEET SWAPS™ before check it out, the site has some yummy low-calorie recipes using SPLENDA.

We get together with Terence’s family just about every Saturday for family dinners.  We celebrated May birthdays at our last dinner and I brought this Mocha-Caramel Iced Coffee.  BBP_3338

Mocha-Caramel Iced Coffee

2-3 servings (I tripled the recipe so we would have enough for our crowd)

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 12 floz Brewed Coffee
  • Crushed Ice
  • 2 packets of  SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener
  • Caramel flavoring of choice to taste
  • Mocha flavoring of choice* to taste
  • Cinnamon if desired

DIRECTIONS

  1. Blend brewed coffee, ice, SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, and flavorings on blender. Make sure ice is crushed into small chunks. Pour into cups and top with cinnamon and whipped topping if desired.

 

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Add the amount of SPLENDA® you need (based upon the recipe above).

I didn’t have caramel flavoring, but I did have some hazelnut creamer so I added a dash of that.  This recipe is so easy that no matter what you do it’s going to turn out good.  You can’t go wrong with coffee+cocoa+whipped cream+cinnamon 🙂

Blend until smooth.

We had a great time celebrating birthdays and the coffee was the perfect companion to our birthday cake!  We celebrated mine and Terence’s birthday, Mom’s birthday, and Aunt Loyce’s birthday.  Although I don’t really celebrate birthdays anymore…I’m forever 30.

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We always have a good time getting together with all these superheroes.  It’s fun to watch them play and soar around 🙂  They grow up too fast I tell ya and I’m thankful Grana and Pop open their home and let us all gather.
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Connor and Ellie are a day apart in age and are BFF.  They just adore each other so much!

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Uncle Garry, Terence, Liz, Marvin, and Grandma enjoying their Mocha-Caramel Iced Coffee.

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Coffee puts a smile on everyone’s face!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think everyone enjoyed the coffee and it was nice and refreshing in this hot Texas weather.  I’ll definitely be heading back to the SWEET SWAPS™ website for some more recipes this summer.  I’m excited for a fresh start and want to make better choices like reducing my sugar intake by swapping out with SPLENDA® Sweetener.

Cool Fact:  Swapping just one cup of sugar with one cup of SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated can save more than 600 calories?

Find more sweet recipes below:

SWEET SWAPS™ Website:http://www.sweetswaps.com

SPLENDA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/splenda

SPLENDA Twitter: @Splenda

SPLENDA Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SPLENDA/