Category: Reviews

Eclectic Baby Style with Estella

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.

Hello all!

I’ve had a great time visiting friends and family in Arkansas this week and I’m headed back home tomorrow.  This summer is going by way too quickly!  Some of you may know already, but I have mentioned to a few people that my twin sister Bonnie is pregnant with a baby GIRL!  We are so excited and so are the boys.  I’ve already been looking at all the girlie things to buy my niece.  I love eclectic pieces and things you can pass on for generations to come.  I found a few things at one of my favorite stores Estella.

Like this precious mermaid doll:

 

Estella opened in 2002 selling eclectic, high-end designer baby and children’s clothes in New York’s Village.  The concept behind Estella was to bring the amazing, artisan-inspired kids’ clothing seen scattered across Europe to New York.  They are quality items made of organic cotton and bamboo…so they are super soft!

I love this taxi cab blanket:

 

Estella’s organic baby toys, baby blankets, and nursery decor pillows are one of a kind.

This Pretzel and Hot Dog gift set is too cute!  “I could just eat you up!”

I’m super excited for a little girl to join the family and as you can tell I’ve already been shopping around.  What I love about Estella is there is a lot of gender neutral stuff too, so no matter if you are gifting for a boy or girl there is something for everyone.

Shop now until July 5, using code Indep20off and Enjoy 20% off summer baby gifts, toys, clothes, nursery décor and more from Estella!

Follow Estella on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest.

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

 

Life is a Highway – with CapitalOne Auto Navigator

It’s been a crazy season in our lives, we bought a new home last fall, Connor is full-swing in school (which is about to be out for summer!), and Terence got a new job a couple of months ago.  It seems like life is always changing and nothing is set in stone these days.  So with all this newness on the horizon, let’s talk about cars shall we- it’s the one thing we haven’t change in a while.

If you happen to live in the DFW area then you know what a bear traffic is around these parts.  My husband has been commuting for years now.  His commute takes almost an hour each way and his car is about to hit the 200K mileage mark.  So, we know that car shopping is in our near future.  I’ve talked with you all about using Capital One® Auto Navigator® before and it’s such a great website.

I had the chance to test it out myself when I visited the DFW Auto Show.

Here’s why:

  • Capital One developed Auto Navigator to simplify car buying and financing. Auto Navigator allows consumers to pre-qualify for auto financing and see their financing terms before visiting a dealer.
  • With Auto Navigator, consumers can find a car and see their financing options, all in one place.
  • Auto Navigator gives consumers the opportunity to see if they pre-qualify for auto financing before they visit a dealer, without impacting their credit score.
  • Consumers can browse more than 3 million cars from over 12,000 participating dealers across the country, including in your area.
  • Consumers can see their personalized APR and monthly payment on each car once they pre-qualify for financing. They can build their offer and see how their financing terms change.
  • Consumers can also get dealer ratings and car reviews – all in one place – and even access car history reports, so they arrive confident and ready to buy when they visit a dealer.

We love traveling and going places as a family, and a reliable car is very important to us.  We want a good value and something that is going to last us years to come.  With Capital One® Auto Navigator® we don’t have to worry about the “what ifs” because we’ll have done our homework before hand & can walk into a dealership feeling knowledgeable and secure.

No matter what we decide a new car should always be a fun and exciting experience…and you can’t beat that new car smell am I right?  So if you’ve wondered what kind of car you can afford and where to find it at the best price Capital One® Auto Navigator® is here to help!

HAPPY ROAD TRIPPING EVERYONE!!!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

An “Eggo-Cellent” Breakfast

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EggoWaffleBar #CollectiveBias

This past weekend we didn’t just have a regular old breakfast of cereal…oh no…I created an Eggo Waffle bar!  A few weeks ago I visited the Eggo Waffle Bar Truck and was inspired to create my own “Waffle bar”.  The Waffle Bar Truck will be in 200 locations from April-September 2017.  Find where the Waffle Bar Truck will be next HERE!

While the boys were out getting haircuts I whipped up some of our favorite breakfast items.  It’s so hard during the week to sit down and have a nice meal together as a family.  The Waffle bar was a lot of fun and Connor LOVED it and he keeps asking when we can do it again!

Our Waffle Bar Items:

– Eggo Homestyle Waffles, Eggo Chocolate Chip Waffles, Banquet® Brown’N Serve™ Original Sausage Links, M&M’S® Minis Milk Chocolate Candies, Smuckers Hot Fudge Spoonable Ice Cream Topping, Reddi-wip® Original Dairy Whipped Topping, Hungry Jack® Original Syrup, and fresh strawberries.

I had 1 Eggo homestyle waffle, 2 dollops of Reddi Wip, 2 Banquet sausage links, 3 sliced fresh strawberries, 1 tablespoon of Hungry Jack syrup, 1 teaspoon of M&Ms minis.  (1 serving- 1263 calories).
No matter how you make your waffles it’s a lot of fun to create your own.  Eggo waffles now have no artificial flavors and colors from natural sources.

All ingredients can be found at Walmart.

All of the products I used to create my waffle bar can also be found on the Eggo Waffle Bar Truck + so much more!

Here’s the Eggo Waffle Bar truck out and about.  It was so much fun creating my own waffle creation, and if you can’t think of what to make just spin the wheel and surprise yourself!

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar’s Spring/Summer Sneak Peek #ldtable

A few weeks ago my family and I had dinner at the AMAZING Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar.  I’ve talked about this restaurant before and we LOVE it so much.  Everything I’ve ever had at Lazy Dog has been above and beyond delicious.

I wanted to share with you all some of our favorites and they also have a yummy spring/summer menu that you’ll have to go check out too.  Also, don’t forget to bring your fur babies- they are welcome on the patio!  You can also have your picture taken to go inside on the Lazy Dog Hall of Fame Wall!

We started out with the Queso Dip- Jack, cheddar, queso blanco, pickled jalapenos, pimentos, cilantro black beans, hand-cut tortilla chips.  This is not your ordinary cheese dip, it’s so much better and made with real cheese.

We also ordered these corn wheels- they have a sauce made with lime, garlic, queso blanco, tajín, & cilantro.  These are also a MUST try item on my list if you visit!

I had the watermelon margarita and it was super refreshing.  Terence tried the peach moonshine.  They also have a great happy hour menu Mon-Friday 3pm-6pm.  There is also a brunch menu for Sundays and a special menu for your “lazy dog”.

This is the second time I’ve had the Grizzly Fries and I’m sure it won’t be the last. They are Potato wedges with housemade secret sauce, crispy bacon, fried sweety drop peppers, smoked paprika.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Terence had a steak and he said it was one of the best he’s had.  He looks like a happy camper right?  Our server was the sweetest too, they have the friendliest staff.

I ordered the Strawberry field salad with heirloom tomatoes.

I also got a bowl of the corn chowder and it’s probably my favorite soup I’ve ever had.  The flavor is sooooooooo good!

Terence and I got desserts to go because we could barely walk to the car afterwards.  Literally…we were stuffed!  I tried the banana pudding and Terence ordered their famous butter cake.

We had the nicest family dinner we’ve had in a long time and I’m so excited that Lazy Dog is close to where we live so we can enjoy it often!

Go check out the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar’s new spring/summer menu…I promise you won’t be disappointed!  Lazy Dog is designed like a lodge with cozy fireplaces, ledge stone and a chandelier crafted from Aspen logs. The dog-friendly patio offers a dog menu, featuring grilled meats and brown rice.  Everything from the food to the atmosphere leaves me wanting to come back ASAP!  Thank you Lazy Dog in Euless, TX for hosting us and we will for sure be back during the “Dog Days of Summer” 🙂

Follow Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

Getting Ready to Party with Balloon Time! #SpringInFullBalloon

This post is sponsored by BSM Media and Balloon Time.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well, school is almost out and these kiddos are ready for summer and we are ready to celebrate!  Most of you know that I am a photographer and I find myself using balloons a TON as photo props.  I will also say that it’s a hassle to get balloons blown up on short notice…because the last time I went to get some there was over an HOUR wait at the party store!

Ain’t nobody got time for that….

Aren’t these boys cute?  I can’t believe they’ll be in second grade this fall.

I decided to get my own helium tank from Balloon Time because we have a lot of parties coming up this summer.  We have my Grandma’s 80th birthday bash and my sister’s baby shower this summer!  So I know that my Balloon Time helium kit will come in handy.  You can pick one up at your local Target and Walmart stores.

Balloon Time is the first and best-selling portable helium kit in the world! They’ve been bringing color, life and fun to celebrations around the globe for more than 30 years with their DIY floating balloon kits.

I found my Balloon Time helium kit in the party section at Target.

There is also a $2.00 off coupon you can download HERE.

The Balloon Time helium kit comes with:

1- Standard Helium Tank

30 Latex Balloons

Ribbon

Life goes by way too fast not to have a little fun!  I can’t wait to have our parties this summer and get some fun balloons to jazz up the space.  I’m also excited that I don’t have to wait in long lines anymore…so next time I want a balloon for a photo prop I’ve got it covered.

Follow Balloon Time on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Need ideas for your party? Check out the Balloon Time website for some fun ideas!

Starbucks Pink Drink – Copycat Recipe + Enter to WIN! #InTheRaw

The product, information, and gift card have been provided by In The Raw® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Agave In The Raw®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of In The Raw®.

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks around here….why do I find myself constantly saying that?  Probably because life itself is kinda crazy right?  Actually, life would be boring if it weren’t for a little crazy thrown in!  There ya go I just justified everything to myself in a couple of sentences…

Anyway…

I live in Texas and everyone is getting ready to party because Cinco de Mayo is this Friday, May 5th!   Cinco de Mayo is actually a celebration of the Mexican army’s victory over France at the 1862 Battle of Puebla…and…It’s also an excuse for everyone to eat tacos, drink sangria or margaritas, and have a huge bowl of guacamole.  A good reason to celebrate right?

No party would be complete without some good beverages. The Raw® can liven up your fiesta with a ton of festive drinks including a traditional Mexican Horchata Cinnamon & Rick Milk Drink, an Iced Coconut Milk Strawberry Tea, or a Sparkling Rosé Sangria.

Agave In The Raw® is an organic sweetener pressed from the core of the Blue Agave plant, and its liquid form makes Agave In The Raw® a great way to sweeten beverages.  Its liquid form makes Agave In The Raw® a great alternative to maple syrup and honey and is a delicious way to top pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, yogurt and more, and also blends easily to sweeten beverages.  This organic sweetener is gluten-free and approximately 25% sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way!

  • USDA Certified Organic
  • #1 selling Agave SKU in retail grocery in the U.S.*
  • Meets “Raw Food” standard
  • 25% Sweeter than sugar
  • Certified Vegan
  • Available nationwide

So I am sure most of you have heard of the “Pink Drink” from Starbucks.  This drink hit it big last summer and is a refreshing yummy beverage I want daily, so why not make it at home with Agave In The Raw®?

I always like to sweeten my strawberries and normally I would dump cups of sugar on them.  Not this time, for this beverage I’m going to sweeten with Agave In The Raw®.

I drizzled Agave In The Raw® over my strawberries to sweeten them, then stir.

I put my strawberries in the refrigerator overnight to “marinate” and get sweet.  After that the rest is a piece of cake!  I’ll share the recipe below!

Starbucks PINK DRINK Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

Add two pods of the berry tea with 1/2 cup white grape juice.  Fill your glasses with ice and add the desired amount of coconut milk.  Top with strawberries.  You can make your beverage however sweet or milky you would like.  It’s delicious!

GIVEAWAY 

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Another fun recipe is this fruity Sparkling Rosé Sangria – featuring a combination of blanco tequila, Agave In The Raw® and fresh fruit – is the perfect way to celebrate the sweet taste of Cinco de Mayo!

Sparkling Rosé Sangria with Agave In The Raw® Recipe:

Prep Time: 10 mins| MAKES 10 SERVINGS

Ingredients

  • 1grapefruit
  • 2limes
  • 1cup strawberries, hulled and halved
  • 1cup raspberries
  • 1cup blanco tequila
  • 1/4cup Agave In The Raw®
  • 1 (750 ml)bottle rosé wine
  • 2cups sparkling water, chilled

Wash all fruit thoroughly. Cut grapefruit into quarters or eighths, and cut limes into quarters. Juice limes and grapefruit pieces into a pitcher, then add spent fruit into pitcher as well. Add strawberries and raspberries.

In a cocktail shaker full of ice, shake the blanco tequila and Agave In The Raw® for about 10 seconds, until combined and chilled. Add to pitcher.

Add rosé to pitcher and stir with a long wooden spoon. You may refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to blend, but it is not required. Top with sparkling water and stir again when ready to serve. Spoon a few pieces of the boozy fruit into each cup.

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