Tis’ The Season + A Life Update

How many of you got up at the crack of dawn to get the limited edition red cup for the first 50 customers at Starbucks this season?  Or in my case they had 400 cups….so yeah EVERYONE got a cup pretty much 🙂

The only thing is you have to use said cup after 2 pm every day and this Mama needs coffee around 6 am stat.  So I have yet to use my .50 cent discount because I’m a morning coffee kinda person.

Christmas shopping at it’s finest.  I got my 9 year old tween to take a selfie with me….that’s a big deal these days.  Ha!  I just love the malls at Christmas time and all the lights and decorations.

My precious babies 🙂

Amen and amen to Target for bringing in some Kinder chocolate.  Especially the hollow snowmen which are like the original Kinder eggs….yippeeeee!!!!

I got a little tree this year for all my Starbucks ornaments.  They were getting to the point where they deserved their own tree.  I’m sure there will be more to come!  I think the oldest one I have is from 2007 or 2008…so it’s been quite the collection in the making so far.

I ordered Heidi a stocking and now our mantle is complete.  This little girl is such a ray of sunshine in our family.  I love seeing the bond between her and Connor.  Honestly I was worried about the 9 1/2 year age difference, but Connor is so sweet with her and such a big help that it’s worked out perfectly.

Have y’all tried this ice cream yet?  It’s Biscoff ice cream with cookie crumbles on top…and OMG it’s the best thing ever.  I have got to stop eating it….but it’s SO GOOD!  I found these at Target and Tom Thumb if you want to look for them you won’t regret this indulgence.

If you are in the DFW area don’t forget to use my coupon code JAVA for 50% off ICE! tickets this year.  We just went and had the best time ever.  It’s one of our favorite traditions and it’s the best way to ring in the holiday season.

 

I did a side by side comparison of Connor and Heidi at 4 months.  What do you think?  Do they look alike?  I definitely think in some ways they do and in others Connor definitely is more “boy” and Heidi has more “girlie” features.

4 months….a bit late.  She turned 5 months yesterday.  I dropped her off at daycare this morning for her first day and my heart could hardly take it.  It’s such an out of control feeling leaving your precious baby in the hands of someone else.  Especially someone you don’t know, but I know it will be fine.  In the mean time I am trying to distract myself from missing my baby boo.

Christmas mini sessions are now booking!  If you’d like to book shoot me an email at : beckylbranch@gmail.com

Oh and this was a total Mom fail.  I accidentally ordered the wrong size stocking the first time.  It was so big that we could fit Heidi inside of it!  It’s kind of funny looking back…but OOOPS!

Mommy & daughter matching Sunday outfits 🙂

Connor finished lacrosse season this fall and he said he really liked it!  I think we will try it again in the spring.  He did a great job and I’m proud of him for being a good team mate and playing hard.

Well, that’s a little life update for ya!  If you are on Instagram that’s where I post more these days on the daily.  GO CHECK IT OUT HERE!

Thanksgiving 2019 Roadtrip with Toyota Sequoia

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  We had a great time visiting family in Arkansas at the farm.  We had the BEST road trip too in the 2019 Toyota Sequoia!  I felt like a boss riding in this on our trip and let me tell you about all the ROOM this vehicle has.  It’s definitely a dream car and big enough to fit anything you might need for a trip and dare I say you could even camp out in it…ha ha!

Obviously Heidi is enjoying the ride and she did pretty well on a 7 hour road trip. 

Connor definitely enjoyed the extra room to spread out and plug in all his electronics as well.

Most kids have tablets these days so companies have been doing away with built in televisions inside cars.  That’s totally fine with me because you can put whatever kind of device you have and there was a handy dandy holder on the back of this headrest.  

All the room in the back of the truck.  That’s why I said you could camp out in here because look at all that room.

Middle row captain seats

Front seats.  These were so roomy and comfortable.  The middle console is huge too and gives you so much space to put things and not feel crowded and cramped.

We listened to the Holly Channel trying to get into the Christmas spirit!

Navigation dashboard

Front and rear temperature controlThis picture shows you just how much I had loaded into this vehicle.  I even had Heidi’s entire bassinet in there!  I loaded our suitcases, all my camera gear, and everything the baby would need!

Of course we had to stop at Dairy Queen.  A road trip tradition on our way to Arkansas.

We had a wonderful visit with Nannie Sue at the farm and I got some really cute pictures of the kids.  This one is my favorite and I still can’t believe how big Connor is getting and that we have a baby GIRL now!  God is so good!

My Mom and Heidi.  She loves her Nana snuggles.

My almost 10-year-old.

Cousins Ella & Heidi in their matching outfits from Nana.

Nannie Sue (Great Grandma) and Heidi about to chow down on some of Nannie’s yummy home cooked meals!

While visiting we went to the Garvin Gardens Christmas display in Hot Springs and it was a lot of fun and so pretty!  We had a great time walking through it with family and it definitely put me in the holiday spirit.


We also had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants…YaYa’s with all my girlfriends at home.  We always have the best time catching up and reminiscing when we get together.

Pictures of the farm Thanksgiving 2019

Taking the boys out on the Ranger

It’s so hard to say goodbye!  We love you Nannie!

Heidi and Poppy (Heidi 5 months)

Me and my twin sister Bonnie with our girls 🙂

And back home we go….the Toyota Sequoia was really the best ride ever and we are so thankful we got to try it.  I felt so safe and comfortable in this vehicle. 

Dinner stop at Burger King.  Making those memories! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family and special thank you to Toyota for getting us all there safely and comfortably.  We can’t wait to make more memories and take more family road trips in the future!  If you want to check out more info on the Toyota Sequioa check out my INSTAGRAM highlights under CARS!

The Perfect Gift with Bose Frames from Best Buy

This post is sponsored by Best Buy.

I have found the perfect gift for YOU this holiday season!  If you know my husband, then you know he’s the most sound obsessed person ever.  He’s obsessed with all things speakers and loves to sit back and listen to music.  That’s the way he relaxes…like a lot of people!  So, when I was asked to try the new Bose Frames I was super excited!  I knew they would be a big hit, especially for the music lovers in your life.  Bose Frames come in two different models, the Bose Alto (large or small sizes), and Bose Rondo.

These are the first audio sunglasses with built-in Bose speakers for an immersive audio experience unlike any other. Personal audio hidden inside two classic designs, each enriched with premium accents and materials. Play music, take calls, and enjoy the sun with UVA/UVB protection.

 

Here I am wearing the Rondo and the Alto side by side.  You can see the Rondo is a bit more round, and the Alto is style more like a classic RayBan sunglasses style.

These sunglasses are really convenient when you want a hands-free wireless experience.  No wearing headphones with sunglasses, so that frees you up to sit and enjoy being outside without all the wires and fuss!  The Bose Frames allow you to take phone calls, talk to Siri or Google Assistant, and they are super light.  Not to mention the sound through the tiny speakers is impeccable.

Turning on the Frames is as easy as pressing the single button under the right side. The button also serves as a pause/play button for accepting a call. Double press to skip forward, triple for back.  To switch them off just turn them upside down for a second or so. It all works great. The one thing they’re missing is volume control, so you’ll have to use your phone for that.

Everything is controlled using the Bose App.  Bose AR (the app) is an audio-first approach to augmented reality. Bose AR-enabled products have motion sensors embedded inside that can detect your head orientation and body movement while you wear them. Bose AR-enhanced apps can then use this information along with location data from your mobile device to offer you tailored audio content.

These sunglasses are so light you barely even realize there are speakers inside and they sound like you are wearing headphones right over your ears.

Sizing Guide:

Each pair includes a charger.  The charge time varied and they can stay charged for up to 2-3 hours at a time.  These would be great for a road trip, hike, or just being outdoors in general.

The Bose Frames also come with a really nice case.  The Frames support standard Bluetooth audio (SBC) as well as the higher quality AAC audio.

If  you are out shopping this week or searching for the perfect gift for Christmas…check out the Bose Frames at Best Buy.  They are super fun, great quality, and gosh darn it they make me want to wear my sunglasses at night!

And just for kicks….here’s my little diva.  Lots to be thankful for this year!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone 🙂

 

ICE! At the Gaylord 2019

ICE! 2019 at the Gaylord Texan did not disappoint!  I loved the Charlie Brown Christmas theme this year, it was so nostalgic & fun.  We’ve been taking Connor to ICE! since he was around 2 years old, so I’d like to think we are somewhat pros at this whole event, but each year something new surprises me.  I never get tired of seeing the exhibit year after year.  If you want to see photos of previous years they are a lot of fun (Search “ICE at the Gaylord” in the search bar in the right column).

Terence stayed home with Heidi this year because she’s a bit too little to be in an environment this cold.  Connor brought his best friend Ben, and I brought my bestie Ellen.  We all had a great time…how can you not?  The Gaylord Texan is a magical place especially at Christmas time.

They don’t just have the ICE! exhibit during the season, there are a lot of other fun activities you can do as well.  There’s the holiday escape room, you can buy tickets when you get there or book online. If you combine ICE! with 2 or more events you can also save up to 30% on your visit.

The Gingerbread decorating corner

Here we are about to walk into ICE!  There are a lot of things to do out in the central gathering area…Lots of food, hot chocolate, a gift shop, Build a Bear, a carousel, snow tubing, and so much more!

These sculptures take months to create and pictures just don’t do them justice.  Here’s my friend Ellen 🙂

The ice slide never disappoints and is the main attraction inside the ICE! exhibit.  I know my son can’t wait to reach the ice slide every year.  Also, there is a reason you wear the blue coat…you have to pull it down over your bottom BEFORE you go down the slide!  It helps you slip slide down.  One year I didn’t wear a blue coat & got stuck on the slide.  Lol!

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Every year ICE! ends with the nativity scene and I LOVE that the Gaylord recognizes the true meaning of Christmas.

Unlimited snow tubing with pass.  This is another can’t miss feature and worth the upgrade.  Also, if you decide to get a VIP ticket you get to skip all the lines & get a free hot cocoa which is pretty nice, especially on weekends.

The carousel

Connor and Ben going for a ride and warming up with Dunkin’ hot chocolate.

Thank you so much to our friends at The Gaylord Texan we love you and LOVED being a part of ICE! this year.  If you all have any questions feel free to comment or check out my stories on Instagram too where I highlighted a bunch of stuff.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.  DON’T FORGET TO USE COUPON CODE “JAVA” FOR 50% OFF (SELECT DATES ONLY)

Feel the Heat with Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave

This post is sponsored by Best Buy.

With the holidays around the corner I know you all are going to have a ton of baking and cooking to do!  Who doesn’t love to sit, relax, and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie or two?  I love to sit back, pop some popcorn, and snuggle in with a cozy blanket.
Speaking of popcorn…have you heard of the new Breville Combi 3-in-1 Microwave?  We already own several Breville appliances in our home and they are wonderful quality and we’ve had them for years.  That’s how I know that this microwave is AMAZING!

The combination Microwave that Air Fries and is a convection oven all in one! This microwave lets you air fry (crunchy fries, brussel sprouts, chicken wings), bake or roast (whole chickens, lasagna, chocolate brownies) or simply microwave with even heat distribution.  The Combi has a 80% quieter soft close door – so no more microwave slams! It’s also 50% quieter while in operation. Clever touches like child lock & mute buttons mean less beeps/bumps/clangs and more pops, bites and crunches!

  • Intuititively easy presets at your fingertips: Smart Cook, Smart Reheat & Smart Defrost
  • The “Fast Combi” function of the Combi Wave 2-in-1 is designed to  cook your favorite dishes faster. Using Microwave, Convection Oven and Grilling to achieve the desired temperature and perfect results in less time.
  • Powered by the Element iQ system, smart algorithms steer power to where and when it’s needed to create the ideal cooking environment.
  • The Power Smoothing™ Inverter gives you precise & even heat distribution, reheating & cooking dishes evenly for more delicious results.

If you’re looking for “the” appliance to do it all this season I think this microwave is it!

Fa La La La FALL!

 

October recap coming in strong!

I can’t believe this year has already almost passed us by.  It’s been quite a year as well!  I took these two to the pumpkin patch one afternoon thankfully before it got too busy.  Oh what a blessing these kiddos are in my life.  Connor is the best, goofiest, and sweetest big brother ever.  I can tell he’ll always watch over Heidi even when we cannot.  It’s the sweetest thing watching them grow and bond with each other despite the 9 year age gap.  Heidi has been the best surprise ever!

Here’s a little throwback to 2010 and Connor’s first pumpkin patch picture.  I think he was around 8 months here.

Oh no Heidi has sprouted EYEBALLS!  Connor loves messing with her too.  I can tell that is going to be a life long “thing” for these two. Ha ha!

Heidi got the cutest little pumpkin spice romper and it’s just the cutest thing EVER!

And I love my new fall t-shirt from Callie Danielle.  She’s going to be coming out with Christmas designs soon and I can’t wait to see those.

My friend Ellen and I went driving around last weekend and I love looking at fall “porchscapes”.  This one in particular was a favorite with the pink pumpkins and bats.  You can see all of the ones we saw on INSTAGRAM under the “Fall” highlights tab.

I also enjoyed my annual trip to Christmas in Cowtown.  I literally go just for the Toffarazzi booth.  If you have never tried their toffee….YOU MUST!  It’s amazing y’all!  (Pic at my cute friend Micah’s booth)

Earlier this month I had a wonderful girls night out with these three ladies.  The one on the far left some of you probably know as my silly friend Nicole, but it was sure nice to meet two new sweet faces.  I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to get out, especially after having a new baby and stuck in the house for months.

Sprinkles brought back their black velvet cupcakes for October and I went a little cray cray!  I looooove dark chocolate and these are EVERYTHING!  I wish they were a main menu item…so come on Sprinkles….make them come back right now so I can be as big as a house lol!

Halloween shopping around town.  I absolutely DO need these pumpkin glasses I can’t see out of ha!

Connor and his bestie Ben at The Creamistry.  Our favorite ice cream shop.

Can I get a helping hand here???  I need this many hands for sure these days to help out with Heidi.  Anyone want to change a diaper?

Connor started playing lacrosse and he really loves it so far.  Coach Brian is whipping him into shape because it’s a ton of running.  Now that it’s cooled down a bit outside it’s not as horrible to wear all that padding, but for awhile I could tell it was just miserable.  I’m so proud of this kiddo!

Connor and Heidi’s Halloween 2019.  Connor is a barista and Heidi is a cutieFrappuccino.  Some how Starbucks found our photo on social media and shared on their Facebook page with their fans…and let me just say that made this Mama’s ENTIRE LIFE!  My coffee addiction has been validated and stamped with approval.  Amen & Amen.  How cute are they?

This statement is basically…ME. 🙂  I hope y’all had a great October too & happy Halloween! I can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes.

xoxo Becky

Life is full of the greatest ups and down.  Remember to cherish every moment, take extra pictures, and never let a day go by without telling those you love how much they mean to you!

Fresh by Design with Bosch

This post is sponsored by Best Buy.

One of my favorite appliance brands is Bosch.  I just wrote about our purchase of a Bosch dishwasher and now looking at refrigerators Bosch seems like a great match! With true counter-depth refrigeration, this freestanding refrigerator sits flush with the counter-top, features hidden hinges, and is discreetly tucked away, all to give you a true built-in look and feel. We first purchased our current refrigerator before Connor was born, so it’s about time for a new one in a couple of years.   

With a stainless-steel finish Bosch refrigerators align perfectly with any stylish kitchen design.
Touch sensitive controls make operating simple and quick!  It contains 5 tempered glass shelves, 4 of which are adjustable and half-width, 3 gallon door bins and 2 humidity controlled compartments to provide ample space for storing items.  The revolutionary FarmFresh System™ combines four innovative technologies to keep your food fresh up to 3x longer, for less food wasted.  *As compared to a Bosch refrigerator without FarmFresh System™.  Results may vary among different foods.
An ingenious three-tier layered freezer drawer system creates extra storage for frozen items, from pizza boxes to frozen waffles.  Like breast milk and tons of bottles for this little diva 🙂
It also has a door alarm that alerts you when the refrigerator door is accidentally left open to save energy.  I do that so much and this is a great reminder feature!

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