Staying Well in the Season of Sickness #SickJustGotReal

January 12, 2017

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

Nothing is worse than when you have a sick child. Am I right? Especially when that child has the dreaded “stomach bug“. I can just about handle anything but throw up! Right before we went on Christmas vacation Connor had a bad stomach bug and he woke Terence and I up in the middle of the night screaming. He tried to make it to the bathroom, but unfortunately didn’t get there in time…and wouldn’t you know it the ONE TIME that the toilet lid isn’t up is when he threw up all over it! Boys….seriously???

We try to get through it the best we can as parents. I’m so thankful for modern-day medicine and that we can give our children the best treatment possible. Pfizer pediatric products are my go to when we have a sick kiddo in the house. They are my tried and true remedies for colds and fevers.

The pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there with three solutions – Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle the ickiest of symptoms.

Flavor is everything too to Connor. If it doesn’t taste good, he isn’t swallowing it. My child has the worst gag reflex and will spit up just about everything.

FEVER: Children’s Advil® comes in several great-tasting flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors. Connor actually enjoys taking the medicine because it tastes so good! Ha ha!

Other great products:

COUGH: 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.

COLD & COUGH: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.

*It is important to remember to always read and keep the cartons for complete warnings and dosing information on Pfizer Pediatric products and to use as directed.

If you have a friend who has a sick child send over a care package. I found this cute little Valentine’s mailbox at Target for $3. Pack it with your favorite cold remedies, some tissues, and a stuffed animal 🙂 Also, make sure you wash your hands frequently. Connor puts his hands on everything and rolls around the floor…I have no idea why, but kids are kids and they do some nasty stuff! I know as a Mom when your child is sick at times you feel helpless, especially when EVERYONE in the house gets sick too. A care package is a great way to show someone you care about them.

Check out the Sick just got real.™ website & Facebook page for some great tips on how to stay well this season.

Finding the Best Breast Pump + Enter to WIN!

January 7, 2017

This giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal, with a prize of a gift certificate

Memory lane…time is a thief. I love reminiscing about when Connor was a baby and I sometimes think about another baby. I dunno…think is the key word. I’m no spring chicken anymore!

I was working full time when Connor was a baby and only had a couple of months maternity leave. I enjoyed every second! I remember coming home from the hospital and trying to breastfeed and it was one of the hardest thing I’ve been through.

I decided early on to strictly pump…and I kept that up for the next 14 months. I absolutely loved breastfeeding and pumping was a lifesaver to me, especially as a full-time working mom. It’s so important to find the best breastfeeding pump.

I honestly don’t know what I would have done without my breast pump.

This was what I carried with me every day:

By the time I went back to work I had a good amount of milk built up. It took a couple of months for it to fully come in, but if you can just stick with it for the first month I PROMISE you’ll get over the hump!

It was worth every single second and I am so thankful I was able to give Connor the best I could. 🙂 I’m not here to knock you if you can’t breastfeed, because I know a lot of Mom’s can’t. This is my personal experience and one that I treasure. I also miss the calorie burn that breastfeeding gave me too! LOL!

You can read more about my story HERE.

ENTER TO WIN $50 GIFT CARD TO DIAPERS.COM

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New Year, New You: My Microblading Experience with Dallas Brow Couture

January 4, 2017

Meet Megan…aka the “Eyebrow Queen”. Not only is she absolutely gorgeous, but she has a heart for others. She’s also really good at her job, she does microblading at Dallas Brow Couture.

I’ll be honest…when I first thought about microblading I was scared. My first thoughts were:

Is this a tattoo? NO. It’s not a tattoo. It’s vegetable dye pigment that is implanted under your skin with a tiny tool to draw hair-like strokes in with your natural brows.
Is in permanent? NO. It’s semi-permanent and can last from 1-3 years depending on your skin. You can get touch ups as often as you’d like.
Does it hurt? NO. Well, not really. Your brow area will be numbed with a cream. I was more sensitive my second visit than my first. Probably because my skin had just been through the process. It wasn’t anything that I couldn’t handle.
Will they look fake? Absolutely NOT. They will look AMAZING!
How much of a difference can eyebrows really make? I thought I had good eyebrows before, but let me tell you gals…now I can’t stop staring at other people’s brows! I feel like even if I have no makeup on I look put together. Megan changed the shape a bit and it opened up my face more. She did things I would never have thought to do. She will make sure everything is symmetrical and you will leave looking Kardashian worthy. Trust. It makes SUCH a difference & I would recommend doing this to any of my friends.

This is Megan’s makeover haven:

Here is my before and after and the last two photos are at my one month check up. You can see from the first and last picture what a difference it makes. I used to fill in my brows and now I don’t have to do that anymore 🙂 HOLLA!

Megan is such a wonderful person and I not only think of her as the “Eyebrow Queen”, but a forever friend. She has a great program where she also gives this gift to others. Check it out here. You can also follow her amazing before and after photos on Instagram and Facebook. If you have any questions please feel free to comment!

I made a video of the process below & I hope you enjoy! xo – Becky

The Gift of JOY: With Hasbro Joy For All

December 16, 2016

This post was sponsored by Hasbro’s Joy For All brand as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

This is truly my favorite time of year. I remember as a little girl waiting anxiously Christmas Eve night for the next morning to come. I would eventually nod off from the excitement & thrill of the day. As I’ve grown older it’s less about the presents and more about being with family & watching the joy in my own child’s eyes.

I want to tell you about a special person in our lives, Terence’s Grandma. She’s the sweetest person. I’ve had the joy of knowing her over the past 15 years and now that she’s in an assisted living home, it’s our turn to take care of her. You see, it doesn’t have to be something big to make someone’s day. Just a hug, phone call, or a visit makes all the difference. The truth is that we can’t be there all the time and unfortunately a lot of people are left alone when they get older without any family or visitors at all….this breaks my heart.

Hasbro has come out with a great new “toy” for seniors called Joy For All. I let Connor babysit the cat (we named her Chloe) & the dog (we named him Max) until he could give them to his Great-Grandma. He absolutely LOVED them! They are so realistic it’s CRAZY! Hasbro has always been a great toy brand, and now they are striving to bring happiness to our beloved Grandmas and grandpa’s.

We went to visit Great-Grandma last weekend and brought her Chloe and Max. She just adored them. I can tell they are going to be well-loved at their new home.

HASBRO’S JOY FOR ALL™ Companion Pets have a unique two-way interaction that can help bring fun, joy, and companionship to our aging loved ones. Joy For All Companion Pets can be powered off, on, and can also be muted at night. They respond to built in sensors from motion and touch. Batteries are also included so you can give it to your loved one right away!

The Joy for All Pup was Connor’s favorite because he is really wanting a dog this Christmas. The Pup barks and turns his head when you talk to him. He opens and closes his eyes. Also, when you place your hand on his back you can feel a calming heartbeat. It’s the most realistic dog…without the maintenance I have ever seen!

The Joy for All Cat is so adorable. It’s fluffy fur is so soft and cuddly. The cat purrs and meows. It will even open and close its eyes too 🙂

We are so thankful for our new furry friends. Grandma’s nursing home is going to use them for all the residents as a therapy tool. I’m sure they will all love Max and Chloe just as much as we did.

Head to JoyForAll.com to purchase your very own JOY FOR ALL COMPANION PET today and use JOY2016 for 10% off your purchase!

Here is a sweet video of Great-Grandma and Chloe. You can see how much she really loved her. Instead of giving Grandma a robe or a pair of slippers this year….give her the gift of companionship. Hasbro’s Joy For All is truly the best gift ever if you have someone living in a home.

Follow Joy For All on Instagram & Twitter for the latest!

Here is Grandma a week later…her nurse sent us a wonderful picture of her visiting
with the Joy for All Pup. Seems like she is enjoying it so very much!

Dinner Delivered by #Chefd + Enter to WIN!

December 13, 2016

This post is sponsored by Chef’d. All opinions are my own.

This season has been so busy y’all. I just finished up all my Christmas sessions for the year and praise the Lord I can finally relax. I’m a Wife & Mom, I blog, I also work part time for a wonderful Dentist, and I do photography on the weekends. My days are crazy busy and a lot of the time I’m just trying to hold everything together the best I can.

Chef’d invited me to try a couple of menu options from their website and to say I was a little excited was an understatement. I absolutely abhor the question “What is for dinner???” It’s something I constantly struggle with. I’m not the best cook, I like to cook on occasion…but overall I genuinely struggle with meal planning during the week.

Chef’d comes delivered right to your door step! Like a magical fairy that answers your prayers and delivers fresh food over night…SURPRISE! Chef’d is the first and only online meal kit marketplace with no membership or subscription fees; you order the recipes you want, when you want them, and all of the fresh, pre-portioned ingredients will arrive at your door within 48 hours.

All items are carefully packed and organized.

I made the Mediterranean Penne with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Parmesan Zucchini. Your kit comes with a step by step instruction sheet for each recipe as well.

There is still some slicing, dicing, and baking to do, but everything is pre-measured and ready to go. Just like on those cooking shows I watch on TV.

Me and my little helper 🙂

Yummy…and FRESH! The zucchini and pasta were so good!

We really enjoyed our menu items from Chef’d and will definitely be trying some more dishes. You can customize meal plans and even shop based on dietary restrictions.

This is a great gift idea for the foodie in your life! Why not give the gift of a great meal with a Chef’d gift card?

Or you can WIN ONE RIGHT NOW!

Please enter using the Entry Form Below:

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Christmas Gift Picks 2016

December 8, 2016

I adore this silhouette of Connor from Miss Thistle Shop. It’s a great gift for Grandparents or yourself 🙂 She does an amazing job!

Y’all I adore these Tecova’s boots and they are handmade here in Austin, TX. For a handmade boot they are AMAZING quality and go with literally everything. I get so many compliments on them whenever I wear them.

This Michael Kors Moss Convertable Tote is 40% off right now and is everything I love in a bag. I cannot tell you how long I’ve been looking for this EXACT color!

I got one of these blankets last year at the Nordstrom sale and it’s one of my favorite items. It’s Mama’s warm fuzzy blanket. I take it with me EVERYWHERE!

A lot of people ask what kind of camera I use. I shoot with a Nikon D750 FX-format Digital SLR Camera Body. If there is one thing I would tell everyone to invest in, it’s a great camera.

I found this confetti pouch from Packed Party last weekend while shopping with my friend Ellen. I love it and it’s just a really cute travel item to stick in your bag.

These bracelets from Premier Designs are some of my favorite pieces and throughout the day I find myself looking at them as a reminder. No matter what you need to hear.

This Kikkerland Selfie Light is awesome! The light is super bright and if you are ever out at night you know how frustrating taking pictures can be.

These 2-in-1 Mini Fan for iPhone/iPad and Android – Pink, Blue & Green – 3-Pack Bundle are the perfect stocking stuffer. If you are like me and always a hot sweaty mess, this is the perfect item to keep in your purse on a hot day or during a hot flash.

I saw these cuties at Christmas in Cowtown this year. They are called Warmies, I got Connor the Intelex Cozy Microwaveable Plush, Puppy and are soooooo soft. You warm them in the microwave for a few minutes before bed and they smell soothing and he loves to sleep with it.

So that’s my short but sweet list of Christmas picks for 2016. What have you found that is super cool and fabulous this year? I’m always down for checking out new stuff!

xo Becky

ICE! at The Gaylord 2016 + 50% Off Coupon!

November 29, 2016

This was our 4th year to attend ICE! at The Gaylord Texan and we always enjoy it. It’s become a family tradition and it’s a nice way to start the holidays. Yes, it’s freezing cold…but totally worth it. The time and talent that goes into the ICE! exhibit each year is extraordinary. It’s definitely something you have to see to believe.

I don’t think Connor was excited at all right?

Before you tour the ICE! exhibit you watch a video of how everything is created by the artists. And then…it starts SNOWING 🙂

Connor sure has grown into the blue coat over the years…this was his very first time to go to ICE! d7k_7376

Here he is at 6 years old.

We walked through this really cool illusion of characters telling stories.

You can also get your photo taken before you tour the ICE! exhibit.

This year’s theme was “Here Comes Santa Claus” Follow along and read the stories together as you walk through each room.

ADULTS: Take a look at this bar made completely out of ice. Frozen or on the rocks maybe?

Of course one of our very favorite things to do is the ice slide.

I love that at the end of the exhibit every year they recreate the nativity scene. This is what Christmas is truly about.

I hope you get a chance to visit the ICE! exhibit at The Gaylord Texan….it truly is a sight to behold. Until next year…”Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

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