A r l e e n e Me n d o z a

Kids, No problem! Tailgate At Home. 3 Quick And Easy Tailgate Food Ideas!

2019-09-26T12:12:00.001-04:00

Football season is back and that means tailgating! (At home that is) Having small children can make it difficult to head to a tailgate party. So why not bring the party home? It's just as fun and probably even less expensive. Invite some friends, have the game on, and snack away. Today, I'm sharing three very easy tailgate food ideas that everyone will love, even the kids!

(This post is sponsored by BJ's Wholesale Club, however all opinions are my own)

If you're like me then you love to shop and save. I love that BJ's is a one-stop shop for all our needs. BJ's provides unbeatable savings on delicious fresh food and groceries with it's exclusive Wellsley Farms brand. I was able to pick up everything I needed to create a tasty tailgate party.

Meatballs

These are a big hit! They are packed with delicious flavor that even the pickiest eater can't resist. To make these you start by frying the meatballs, once they are golden brown you add your chopped Wellsley Farms Green Pepper, onions, and garlic. Let that cook for about five minutes. Then you add your marinara sauce and seasoning packet. Cover and let it simmer for a good half and hour.

Corn on the cob

This is a staple. Wether you prefer to grill it or put it in the oven like I did. Everyone will love it. Top it off with some salt and pepper and you are good to go.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

You can't have a party without this dip. I make this dip every chance I get. It's creamy, cheesy and delicious. There are a few ways to make this dip if you search it on Pinterest. The way I like to make mine is on the stovetop. All you need to make this is shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch, buffalo wing sauce, and cheddar cheese.

Have your shredded chicken ready. I like to get the Wellsley Farms Hot Rotisserie Chicken from BJ's and shred it. It has much more flavor than if you just boil your chicken. Then I mix the chicken with a little buffalo sauce. Remember start with teaspoon and add more if you want it spicier. Heat your stove top to medium heat and add your cream cheese. Mix it around until it starts melting then add half of the bottle of ranch. Mix until well combined. Add your chicken and cheese and mix until the cheese is melted. Serve with some Wellsley Farms Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips.

What are some of your favorite tailgate foods? Make sure you follow me on Instagram (here!) where I'll be sharing more tailgating food options throughout October.

Stay Safe This Summer | SwimZip

2019-05-30T18:40:00.002-04:00

The boys have only four school days left to start their summer break! I have a lot of things planned to do this summer with the boys and since last summer we didn't get to go to the beach this year it's at the top of my list. However, it's very important to me that my boys are very well protected from the suns harmful rays. So here are my top tips for staying safe this summer!

1. Sunscreen! Apply and then reapply every two hours. Seems pretty obvious right? but a lot of people tend to forget to pack it with them. They will apply before they head out to the beach/pool/park etc. but will forget to take it with them to reapply.

2. Wear swimwear that has UPF protection! SwimZip is my favorite. The quality is unreal, I love that the rash guards tops have a front zipper which makes it easy to put on and take off. If you have kids that complain when trying to take off a wet rash guard you'll understand. Their infant one piece suits have the snaps at the bottom to make diaper changes a breeze! Best of all their products are UPF 50+ protection!

3. Get some shade! Especially when going with kids. Whether you use an umbrella or go at a time where the sun is not so harsh.

4. Hydrate! Bring plenty of water with you.

How are you staying safe this summer? Have any of you heard of this brand? I highly recommend it especially for our children. By the way if you follow me on Instagram I will be having a giveaway with them soon so be on the look out!

C-Section Mama x3 | My birth stories | Cesarean Stigma

2019-04-08T12:21:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I wanted to write this post but just never got around to it. For those of you that have been following my blog for a while now, know that I gave birth to all three of my kids via c-section. There is so much stigma still to this day about c-sections and in all honesty it's ridiculous. I would never allow those comments to get to me but c-section shaming has mentally affected so many women out there. It doesn't matter how your child came into this world. We are all mothers.

When I had Giovanni, never did I expect that I would have to have an emergency c-section. Sometimes things don't go as planned and that's okay. After being in labor for more than 18 hours, contractions and all I had to be rushed to have an emergency c-section because Giovanni's heart rate was dropping. The amount of stress that I felt as I was being wheeled from one room to another was on another level. A cesarean section is a major surgery, why people think that is the easy way out baffles me.

[ Giovanni 6lbs. 7oz. ]

I've had people say: "oh you had a c-section, you had it easy." "you didn't have to push."

Im sorry but what part of it was easy? The part where they had to cut my abdomen, move my organs around to safely take my baby out? Or recovery, where I could barely get up and walk? This whole c-section stigma needs to stop. I have read other women's stories where they have been told that "they didn't give birth, they just had surgery"

When I got pregnant the second time as well as with my last. I was told that because I was a previous cesarean I had to have my future pregnancies like that as well because of all the risks involved. I'm pretty sure that's not true because I know women that have had c-sections and then had babies vaginally. But in my case and my doctor I didn't have much of a choice. And even though both Daniel and Mia where scheduled c-sections the word scheduled doesn't mean that the process would be smooth. The only thing that was different was that I was able to mentally prepare myself for what was to come since I knew what to expect.

[ C-Section with Daniel. ]

Since Daniel was a scheduled c-section I remember people would tell me "Well at least you don't have to feel pain from the contractions this time around." Again, things did not go as planned. I gave birth to Daniel two weeks before my scheduled c-section. I remember that day it was pouring rain and my husband was at work. I started having horrible contractions and I had to get Giovanni and I ready and drive us to the hospital all while getting contractions every couple minutes. The doctor said to me as soon as your husband gets here we will prep you and get you into surgery. A couple hours later Daniel was born.

[ Daniel 6lbs. 8oz. ]

Mia was also a planned cesarean but she came out early as well. I was scheduled to have her on New Years and she came two days after Christmas. I was already feeling contractions here and there prior to that day but nothing too bad. The 27th I was shopping at target when my contractions started getting worse. My husband had to get out of work early to bring me to the hospital so I can be monitored. The doctors didn't want to go ahead and roll me in because they thought my contractions would slow down once I got an IV. Well a couple hours in and my contractions were less than a minute apart, I was screaming and clearly in active labor. I was in so much pain that I thought I was going to pass out. I didn't know this but my husband was keeping track of what was going on that day and his note said "6:30 P.M. Contractions gone wild" thinking about it now it makes me laugh because he was spot on. An hour and a half later they finally wheeled me into surgery and in less than an hour Mia was born.

[C-Section with Mia. My hair ended up all knotted from me curling into a ball from all the pain. Plus the nurse that was monitoring my vitals during surgery kept moving my cap around asking me if I was okay]

[ Mia 6lbs. 5oz. ]

Pregnancy is such a beautiful time in a women's life. You are anticipating the arrival of your baby and just want them to come into this world healthy. So whether you have your baby vaginally or via cesarean, you are a bad ass woman! Giving birth is no walk in the park for neither procedure. So why the comparisons? Every one has a different experience! What happened to me doesn't mean it has to happen to you. That is why we all have our own unique birthing stories.

I read this online (here) and I wanted to share:

You see, the language we use to differentiate between vaginal births and Caesareans robs C-section moms of any sense of ownership over how their children were born. “Natural birth” implies that C-section births are “unnatural.” Women whose babies are born vaginally give birth, whereas women whose babies are born via surgery have a C-section. Vaginal births are something you accomplish; Caesareans are something that happen to you. See the distinction?

♡

Giving birth is a beautiful thing, it's an unforgettable experience, it's the most rewarding experience of life. It doesn't matter which way our kids came into the world, what matters is that they are healthy, that they are happy, and that they are loved.

April is Cesarean Awareness Month. Let's spread positivity. Every birth is beautiful.
What's your story?

What's in my diaper bag?

2019-03-11T10:39:00.002-04:00

Hi friends! Baby Mia is two months old and I finally feel like I have my life back in order. It took some time to adjust to being a mom of three and of course recovering from the c-section but all is well now. I can't lie and say it hasn't been tough, I had forgotten that sleeping 5-6 hours a day was actually a lot. The first couple of weeks we were lucky if we got 3 hours of sleep. Thankfully Mia is finally on a good sleeping schedule.

I have gotten quite a couple of DM's on what I keep in my diaper bag and how my breastfeeding journey is going (That's a whole other topic) so today I am sharing with you my diaper bag essentials. We have a total of 4 diaper bags that we use ( I know, I know, I'm crazy )but I'll share more on that in another post. For now let's talk about what I find helpful to have and the diaper bag you see here.

In this post I am using my Fawn Design bag. This specific bag was designed with womanhood in mind. It's functional and stylish for any use. This design is The Original (Black).

Diapers -I always carry 5 diapers. You never know how long you might be out for so it's best to have enough. I love Pampers and Luvs.
Baby Wipes -I go through these like water. Not only do I use them for the baby but my boys use them as well, wether it's to wipe their hands, mouth, or clean up a spill in the car. My love the Up & Up brand from target and the pampers wipes as well.
Outfit Change - This is a must! Accidents happen and you should always have an outfit change for when they do. I usually keep a onesie in my bag. Mia is two months and so far we've had to accidents. Once I get back home the first thing I do is put another onesie in my bag so I don't forget.
Bibs or Burp Cloths - I like to carry one of each. My favorite bibs are from Copper Pearl.
Baby Bottles/Formula - I am currently breastfeeding but since Mia's last check up her pediatrician suggested I give her formula as well because she wasn't gaining weight like they were hoping she would. I carry a baby bottle with water already in it and the formula dispenser. Some of my favorite bottles are Playtex, Dr. Brown's, and Tommee Tippee.
Swaddle Blanket - I always make sure I have a blanket on hand. My absolute favorite are from Bebe Au Lait.
Pacifier - I love the Pop Pacifier.
Milksnob Cover - I have this over my carseat at all times. It works as a carseat cover, nursing cover etc. I talked about this product in my Baby Registry Must Haves post.
Thermometer - This is another product I recommended on my Registry post. I like to keep in my diaper bag just incase I'm out and about and any of my kids starts feeling warm, I can start tracking their temperature. The Kinsa Quickcare is my favorite.

A couple other items that I like to have on hand for my boys plus my stuff include:

Hand sanitizer
Tissues
Chapstick/Lipstick
Wallet
Nursing pads (because I am currently nursing)
Panty liner (you know, postpartum stuff Lol)

I also keep a small storage bin in my car that holds things I will mostly use while I'm out but don't need to carry in the diaper bag.

Solly Baby Wrap - Best wrap ever!
Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

She's here! baby MIA

2019-01-08T09:45:00.001-05:00

Happy 2019 everyone! As you can see by today's post my sweet baby girl is finally here. She has filled our lives with so much joy. Daddy is obsessed with his princess, big brothers are in love with her and already very over protective, and I have my new best friend. God has blessed our family in a way we never expected.

Mia Arleene Mendoza

Born on December 27, 2019

at 8:04 P.M.

6 lbs 5 oz, 19 in.

Llama print Newborn Nest Essentials

*Perfect gift for any mama to be. Newborn nest includes all your hospital bag essentials for baby.

Baby Registry Must Haves

2018-12-04T10:11:00.004-05:00

I am literally three weeks away from welcoming our little princess into this world. I am still shocked as to how fast this pregnancy went. I had planned to have this post go up yesterday but you know how things go #momlife. I wanted to put together a quick list of some items that I believe every mom-to-be should have on their baby registry. Besides the obvious carseat, stroller etc. Here are a few items to add.

One of the most important products to have on hand is a thermometer. Unfortunately you don't want to assume that your new born baby will get sick so fast but things happen and it's best to be prepared. If you're already a mom then most likely you would already have one but if you are looking for a great thermometer the Kinsa QuickCare Thermometer is one of the best! It provides accurate readings in 8 seconds, the tip is flexible which makes it less uncomfortable for your little ones and it's free app lets you track your baby's readings plus provide guidance on how to soothe your little one.

While on the same subject the FridaBaby SickDay Prep Kit is also a nice staple to have on hand. This kit comes with everything you need to help your baby with those colds. The kit includes the iconic NoseFrida, the MediFrida (Accu-dose pacifier), Breathable snot wipes, and an Organic BreatheFrida vapor rub chest balm.

Next up on the list, the Milk Snob Cover. The Milk Snob Cover is a 5-in-1 cover that can be used as a a cover for infant car seats, nursing, shopping carts, high chairs and infant swings. This versatile cover is made of silky soft, premium knit fabric. I am not kidding when I tell you the fabric on this product is amazing!! I could literally snuggle in this all day long if I could. This is a must have for all the moms-to-be out there.

Another product that I think should be on your baby registry is the Lansinoh Hands Free Breast Pump Bustier. This bustier allows moms to multitask while pumping. It's adjustable and has a four way support system for a secure seal. This specific one works with all double electric breast pumps which is why I love it.

If you are going to breastfeed than having a breast pump is a must! When I had my boys unfortunately I only produced milk for about 3-4 months with both of them and pumping was actually what helped me get most of my milk. The Spectra Baby S2 Breast Pump is a really good one. This one allows you to program the pumping speed and rhythm according to your body. It also works great with the hands free bustier I mentioned above.

A product that I found to be very interesting is the Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock. This hammock easily clips into most shopping carts and hangs elevated so you have plenty of room for your groceries. To put it away, simply roll it up and put it in your purse or diaper bag. The shopping cart hammock can also be used to secure your carseat in the shopping cart.

Lastly we have the DockATot Deluxe. I have to say I am new to this product, this product was not around when I had my both my boys but I am so excited to use it with my baby girl. By now i'm sure all of you have heard of this product but for those of you that don't know the DockATot is a multi-functional docking station for your baby. It is designed to mimic the mother's womb and provide a comfortable and snug environment for the baby to rest, lounge, and play in. It's lightweight and portable which allows for easy travel.

I have to say the price tag throws you off with the Deluxe dock designed for babies 0-8 months ranging from $175-$200 and the Grand dock designed for 9-36 months ranging from $275-$300. However, after reading all the reviews I do feel that this product is a great investment for you and your baby. Of course I will have a follow-up review once I put it to use.

What are some of your must haves? Leave them below so I can check them out.

Kids Halloween Costumes | DIY Scooby Doo and Shaggy

2018-09-24T21:57:00.001-04:00

Halloween is slowly starting to creep up on us once again. I don't know if it's because I'm pregnant but I feel like I blinked and BAM a whole year just flew by and we will be welcoming a baby girl by the end of December! You all know that I love to DIY as much as possible with my kids halloween costumes (and who wants to spend $40-$50 on a costume that will only be worn for a few hours) not me! This year my kids started watching Scooby Doo so of course I came up with the idea of turning them into Shaggy and Scooby.

Recreating this costume idea was easier than I expected. For the shaggy outfit, Giovanni already had those khaki pants so all I needed for him was a green t-shirt which I found at JCPenny for only five dollars.

For the Scooby costume I was looking for a brown shirt and pants but came across this top and bottom at Target. The outfit came out under $20 and the good thing is he will be able to wear these pieces separetly this fall season! As you can see the only thing I had to make were the ears and collar which cost me a total of $2.60

Ears and Collar Steps & Supplies

1 Cat ear headband

4 Felt sheets (blue, yellow, brown, & beige)

Glue gun

Scissors

Collar:

I looked for an image of the collar online and started cutting pieces according to what I needed. I used the blue felt to cut out two 1 inch strips and one small diamond shape to fit on top of the yellow diamond shape I cut. I then cut out a very thin strip off the yellow felt to create a ring. Then just free cut the letters and glue everything together.

(I did not glue the collar together until the day my son wore it because you need to make sure its loose enough not to be uncomfortable and I simply cut it off after he was done wearing it) You can always add a piece of velcro at the end for more use but I knew he would only wear it once so I chose not to do so.

Ears:

The ears were just as simple to make as the collar. As you can see below I placed the cat ears on the felt and traced a shape that I thought was appropriate for Scooby's ears then cut out two pieces per ear. I placed one on top and one below and glued the front and back pieces together. Then I traced a smaller piece on the beige felt to go in the middle of the ear and voila, you have a dog headband!

Again I found this cat ear headband in the Target dollar spot this year so I am sure they still have it :)

Mystery Machine Prop

I ended up making them a prop of the Mystery Machine which in my opinion tied the whole costume together. You don't have to make one but if you decide to all you need is a foam board (dollar tree), paint, and an x-acto knife to cut out the window. I only had to buy the board because I had everything else. However if you choose to make it paint should only cost you about four dollars for the colors you need. I drew the design on the board with a pencil and then painted each section.

If you decide to recreate this costume idea I'd love to see how it turned out so make sure to tag me on Instagram here!

Exact Product Links:

SHAGGY:
Khaki Pants HERE
Green T-shirt HERE (Found in-store for $5)

SCOOBY DOO:
Top HERE
Bottom HERE

Baby Gender Reveal | It's A.....

2018-08-20T19:09:00.001-04:00

I was compensated for the service received for this post, however all opinions are my own.

The moment we found out we were expecting my husband and I started the conversation of "What do you think it is? What if it's another boy? What if it's a girl? What names do you like? etc." We had so many questions and so many emotions running through our head. Regardless of what the sex of the baby was going to be we were excited!

As most of you know I have two boys so I think it's safe to say naturally we would be hoping for a girl this time around. This pregnancy was very different than both of my boys which led me to believe the baby could possibly be a girl but then I always changed my guess to a boy because I lost a lot of weight like I did with the boys. My husband on the other hand never changed his guess and always stuck with " I know for a fact it's a girl ".

We wanted to find out the gender as soon as possible so I did some research and came across a company called SneakPeek. SneakPeek test is an at-home prenatal gender test. It was designed to let you take the gender DNA test in a stress free environment in the comfort of your home and be done as early as 9 weeks! SneakPeek is 99% accurate based on laboratory testing. The best part is you can find out if your baby is a girl or a boy in 72 hours!

I decided to do the test and we had my results sent to my sister-in-law's email. That way we could be able to do a small gender reveal with our family. The photos from this gender reveal were taken before our actual baby announcement pictures which I shared with you all in my last post. That is why my bump is a lot smaller here. I asked you all to guess the gender on my baby announcement post on Instagram and most of you said girl....

I am thrilled to announce that

BABY #3

A.....

GIRL!

♡

SneakPeek: Website , Instagram , Facebook

We're pregnant with baby number 3!!

2018-08-08T11:01:00.002-04:00

Surprise!! Our family is growing and we are thrilled! Baby number 3 is due early January 2019! I still can't believe we are going to be a family of 5. I am nervous but most of all excited for whats to come.

THE FIRST TRIMESTER...

was definitely hard. Harder than both of my previous pregnancies. The morning sickness was an all day thing. I wasn't able to keep any food down unless I took a nap right after I ate to help me not get nauseous. I lost over 10 lbs, but I expected that because with both my pregnancies I lost weight in the first trimester. What made the first trimester even worse was that I caught a cold too and it lasted almost two weeks because as you know there is no medicine that I could take that would be safe during pregnancy, let alone during the first trimester.

PREGNANCY SO FAR...

So far things are going well. I am half way into my second trimester which means I am 18 weeks. We already know the gender of the baby too. We've known for a while now actually thanks to SneakPeekTest but I will share more info on that in my next post when I share the gender reveal. The baby is nice and healthy and is already kicking like crazy especially at night.

I have to say the best part about this pregnancy has been seeing how excited the boys are for a new baby. Even though they are rooting for a baby T-Rex or a baby Raptor. Lol. All jokes aside though they have been so loving towards the baby already and I can't wait to see them all together.

AFTER BABY...

I am not sure if most of you know but both of my boys were c-sections. Once I had Giovanni via emergency c-section I was told all my pregnancies after that would also be via cesarian. It's not something I choose but i'm okay with it now. I even asked my doctor if I would be able to deliver the baby naturally but she said no. Something about it's not allowed in the state of Florida because of all the risks. Even though a c-section has it's own risks but at this point i'm fine with it because this is actually our last baby. It's not safe to have multiple cesarians because the risks increase so we already knew coming into this that I would be getting my tubes tied.

We are just so thankful with all that God has blessed us with. Stay tuned for the gender reveal pictures this weekend!

Links:

Shirts: Made By Michelle

Photography: J.Alvarez Photography

My Top 5 Spring Must Haves

2018-04-26T13:14:00.003-04:00

Hey guys! Even though we are half way through spring I still wanted to share with you my spring favorites. I know some states up north are actually still having snow which it's crazy. I couldn't do it, I need my hot, warm weather all year long. Hooray for Florida am I right? Okay, enough chit chat let me show my spring must haves!

1. Nude Lace-Up Heels

You can never go wrong with a pair of nude heels. They can compliment many different outfits and spice up a casual outfit with the details on the shoe. I found these at Forever21 for under $35. Get them here.

2. Cute Sunglasses

Casually while doing my regular round up in Target I spotted these and immediately fell in love. They are so fun and I love the pastel pink color perfect for spring. Get them here.

3. Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lipgloss

I am more of a liquid lipstick kind of girl but lately I have been enjoying the new lipgloss collection from Urban Decay. They have a lot of colors to choose from and they feel comfortable on the lips.

PS: Giveaway at the end of this post ;)

4. Dove Body Polish

This bad boy here is my favorite. No this specific post is not sponsored. I have been using these since Dove released them and I love all 3 scents. This one has been my go to for spring though. It exfoliates and nourishes your skin at the same time. Go get yourself one and get those summer legs ready. Get them here.

5. Tassel Earrings

I'm sure you have seen tassel earrings all over social media by now. They are hot this season and I see why. I got these from Kohl's but you can pretty much find them at any store. I have yet to find a nice nude pair but these fun colors are always great too. Get them here.

I mentioned on my Instagram that I would be giving away some of the Urban Decay lipglosses so here we are. Thank you again to all of you that continue to show support throughout all of my social media. Love you guys!

I will be picking two winners, each will receive 5 lipglosses. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giovanni's and Daniel's Room Tour

2018-04-02T10:11:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday! As promised, I am finally sharing my boys room tour. The room is not 100% done yet but I haven't been able to find the curtains, rug, and light fixture that I want for their room and I didn't want to keep holding it off till then.

My kids have always shared a room together. We do have an extra room in the house but keeping them together is something that I chose to do. I grew up sharing a room with my siblings until a certain age and those are some of my favorite memories. I want my boys to share those same moments I did because I know one day they will cherish those memories.

Okay, so lets me start off by saying that this room has transitioned a lot. When we first bought our home our youngest Daniel was just one month old. This room went from having a crib and a toddler bed, to having two toddler beds, to what they have now bunkbeds!

The good thing about having bunkbeds is the extra space you get. However, having bunk beds means the bed is never made. Especially when you have younger kids. You might be thinking that I made sure the bed was nice and tidy before taking these pictures right? Well can you believe it was my kids who made their beds.

I stumbled upon a brand named Beddy's on Instagram and I instantly knew that these sheets would solve my problem. The material is soft and very comfortable. My kids are obsessed with their sheets. I love that they can have their beds made with just a zip! It's genius!

On each side of the bunkbed we placed a storage system that we found at Ikea, were they store their hats, sunglasses, pajamas, and board games. They each have a closet but we kept their pajamas there for faster, easier access at night.

Across from their beds we have their tv, cube storage unit, and books. I used the Ikea spice racks to hold their books. My kids both love to read especially before bed so I usually buy them books when they have the book fair at Giovanni's school.

Im sure you can tell by now that we love Ikea for all things storage. All the furniture items and storage bins (both in the cubes and under the bed) are from Ikea. I love that their bins are very sturdy and basically half the price that you would find anywhere else. If you are looking for 13x13 bins, I definitely recommend the ones from Ikea.

The color scheme I had in mind for their room was black and white. I wanted to stick with colors that could go with anything. That way I could add pops of color here and there.

That's a wrap. I wanted to keep the room simple but functional. Being that this is their play room/ bedroom making sure they had enough storage was a priority. I will be sharing pictures on my Instagram once I get their rug and light fixture, make sure you're following me to stay in the loop. Have a blessed day!

Fun easy easter treats

2018-03-26T18:49:00.001-04:00

Last week I shared some ideas on what to use to fill those easter baskets. Today I am sharing some treats to fill your sweet tooth. I am sharing three different treat ideas using chocolate! They are fun, easy, and festive.

Up first my absolute favorite a chocolate covered peep. These little bunnies put a smile on everyone's face. To make these you need peeps, candy melts chocolate, small marshmallows, and cake pop sticks or decorative straws.

Insert your stick through the bottom of the peep, pour chocolate over top until fully covered and place on parchment paper, then add a small marshmallow for the tail, and let it harden.

Next, we have a traditional chocolate dipped strawberry. The twist here is to use orange candy melts to imitate a carrot. This is a fun easy and delicious treat for everyone.

Lastly, we have chocolate bark. This one is so fun to make because you can make a variety of them. Start by melting the chocolate and then pouring it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Spread it, add as many toppings as you want, and let it harden. Originally I was just going to use sprinkles but I decided to add some chopped up leftover strawberries.

Keep in mind you can customize this treat with as many toppings as you like. I think for my next batch I will add chopped up nuts, shredded coconut, and pineapple.

Thats all for today, as always if you try any of these treats please tag me on social media. I would love to see.

Easter Basket Ideas | All Ages

2018-03-19T11:08:00.003-04:00

With Easter right around the corner I wanted to bring you some Easter basket ideas for kids of all ages. We all know that a traditional basket is usually filled with plenty of chocolate and candy but you can incorporate so many other small goodies and save the treats for some fun in the kitchen.

BABIES & TODDLERS

Let's keep in mind that babies and toddlers are just starting to grasp the idea of Easter. I personally don't think they need any chocolate or candy at this age. Instead you can fill their basket with bath toys, bubbles, books, stuffed animals, and even get them a blanket with their favorite character.

CHILDREN AGES 4-7

Kids at this age are the ones that are most excited about Easter. They are looking forward to their easter basket and going egg hunting. Great little gifts to include in their basket are chalk, books, play doh, coloring books, crayons, toy figures, balls, dolls, cars, and even slime.

CHILDREN AGES 7-12

This age is a little tricky, children start to understand that the easter bunny is actually a person dressed up in a bunny costume. However, they still like to participate in eggs hunts and look forward to their annual easter basket.

For Girls: Barbies, legos, lipgloss, hair accessories, and chocolate are great ideas.

For Boys: Legos, a soccer ball, water toys, nerf gun, and candy are great ideas.

Fun Tip: When I was this age my parents used to fill some of our eggs with dollars and for our egg hunt they would put a five or ten dollar bill in one egg.

PRE-TEENS & TEENS

In reality at this age most young boys and girls are not interested in receiving a basket. Most kids are glued to their phones or tablets. If you still want to gift them a little something it's perfectly fine. At the end of the day our kids will always in our eyes be little no matter how grown they are. Use a gift bag and add things like headphones, gift cards (incase they eat out with friends), or movie tickets.

What will you be filing up your baskets with? Share them with me I would love to see.

Lion Country Safari Experience

2018-03-07T11:35:00.001-05:00

Last month my oldest Giovanni turned seven years old! I still can't believe how fast the years go by, I remember the day he was born like it was just yesterday. It's crazy to think that I became a mom seven years ago. The week before his birthday unfortunately we all had the flu, not only was I not going to be able to plan a little party for him last minute but my house was a mess. We gave him some options and asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday. After he found out everything there was to do at Lion Country Safari he immediately said he wanted to go!

Lion Country Safari is a drive through safari and walk through park. The website recommends you spend around 4-5 hours to enjoy both the drive and the park. We were there for about 5 hours and were able to enjoy everything the park has to offer. The drive through experience was very nice, you get to see all the different animals up close walking by your car. One of the best memories we had on the drive through was having the Ostrich tap at our window. The kids really enjoyed it, they were all laughs and giggles.

The park offers a lot for your little ones, they have rides, animal feedings, petting zoo, mini golf, paddle boats, and a water play area. We walked around and saw the different animals through the park, then the kids got on the rides. The rides they have are the flying elephant, a train ride, a fun slide and a carousel. After that we went to feed the animals. I have to say the best part was being able to feed the giraffes. They are such beautiful animals and we were able to capture a lot of great pictures.

We decided that it would be best to save the water play area for last. We went ahead and made sure we saw everything there was to see and let the kids get on the rides so once we settled in the water park area they could really enjoy their time. If you are planning on going make sure you pack a bag with their swimsuit, towels, and sunscreen.

Overall we had an amazing time! If you have little ones that love animals this would be a great place to take them too. Once we got in the car we all took a turn and said what our favorite part of the day was, can you guess what my kids picked?

Celebrating Valentine's Day As A Family

2018-02-10T15:00:00.002-05:00

Who's ready for Valentine's day? I am! This year I wanted to share with you all how you can celebrate valentine's day as a family! As parents all we want is some alone time with our significant other right? Valentine's day is a good day to leave the kids with the babysitter but it's actually fun to celebrate it as a family too.

If you're kids are younger in age like mine then you know all they want to do is spend time with you. Why not take advantage of that and make the best of it. You're kids will be thrilled and you will make memories that can't be bought. This year celebrate valentine's day cooking with your family. You're probably thinking cooking on valentine's day? Really? Yes, really. My kids love to help out in the kitchen so having one night where they can literally get in there and help along with your spouse will be memorable. You can make heart shaped pizzas or heart shaped brownies.

Start by grocery shopping with your kids, get them involved. Tell them what you need and have them help you put things in the cart. Have all the things you need ready before you start. Get everyone around the table and assign a job to everyone. While the food is baking have everyone help clean up. If there is still time play a board game as a family. The most important thing is to have fun, make memories, take pictures, be silly, because at the end of the day spending time with family is what matters most.

Top 10 Valentines Gift Ideas For Her

2018-01-24T12:16:00.002-05:00

Valentine's day is less than a month away and now is the time you start thinking of what you are getting that special someone. Wether it's for your mom, wife, girlfriend, sister, aunt, friend, or co-worker start planning now. A tip from me to you is to take your time and really pay attention to that special someone.

Valentine's day is a day dedicated to love and to show those we love, acts of love.

I've put together a list of gift ideas I am sure any women in your life would truly enjoy and appreciate.

Beats Headphones- Beats are a great gift for the fitness lover in your life. This is a gift you know she will love and use on a daily basis. Not only that but she will appreciate you thinking of the little things that will make her workouts that much better.
Take a Cooking Class- If you do your research in time you can join a cooking class in your area. This is a special surprise for foodie lovers. Most classes are kept small between couples so that you may enjoy your time creating a stunning three course meal and mingle with the other couples. It's the perfect gift and dinner in one.
Smart Battery Case- This is one of my favorites. Think about it, women use their phone all day long. There is nothing worse than wanting to take a picture of your kids or having to make a call only to realize you are on 5% battery. I have the Apple Smart Battery Case and it has been a life saver.
Kylie Cosmetics- Kylie cosmetics has been all the hype since it launched last year so why not surprise her with some goodies from Kylie cosmetics. You can always get a Sephora gift card but the key here is to think outside the box and give her something she won't expect.
Spa Gift Certificate- Who doesn't love a good massage? This is a gift idea that will never go wrong. Give the gift of pampering and relaxation. You can always make it extra special by adding a manicure and pedicure to go with that massage. Trust me you will make her day!
Designer Shoes- Ever heard the saying chocolate is good, but shoes are carb-free? If you really want to splurge on her for Valentine's day you will never go wrong with a pair of designer shoes. The Christian Louboutin So Kate Pumps are a winner! She will literally love you for the rest of your life.
Camera/ Lens- Moms and women in general love taking pictures. A DSLR camera would make an incredible gift. There's an article that says that women have triple the amount of pictures on their phone than men. It sounds crazy but I actually have 3,000 pictures in my phone as i'm writing this (yikes!). If she already has a camera a new camera lens would be a great alternative. Lenses could make all the difference in the kind of pictures she wants to take.
Take a Painting Class- Surprise her after dinner with a painting session at Painting with a Twist. You will be able to spend some quality time together, painting and sipping on wine. This is a perfect gift not only for couples but its an experience you can enjoy with friends as well.
Pandora Charm- Pandora has a variety of charms for that special someone. These make beautiful gifts because every charm translates a special moment in someone's life.
Roses and Chocolate- If all else fails you can always go with the classic roses and chocolate. Make it interesting send them to her job, or have them delivered to her before your date. While we find it romantic if you come home with roses, something about receiving them while you are not present is more significant.

Classic Waffle Recipe

2018-01-16T22:22:00.001-05:00

This year I really want to post as many recipes as possible. One thing that you may or may have not known about me is my love for food. I can literaly eat all day long if you let me. However, when it comes to breakfast I can't just eat eggs and toast. I need something sweet like waffles, pancakes, or muffins. My family usually prefers pancakes but after getting this recipe right these waffles might just make it into our routine.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15-20 minutes | Servings: 12 mini or 6 waffles

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup milk
6 tbsp melted butter

Directions:

Preheat your waffle iron (I use a mini waffle iron).
In a mixing bowl whisk together the dry ingredients.
In separate bowl whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract.
Slowly add the wet mixture to dry mixture and continue to whisk until smooth.
Let mixture sit for 2-5 minutes.
Spray your waffle iron with butter and pour 1/3 cup mixture onto hot iron and cook until golden brown. **I used a 1/3 cup for a mini waffle iron change the cup according to how big your waffle iron is.
Serve and top it off with fruits, whip cream, or syrup. Enjoy!

New Year | New Goals

2018-01-05T12:27:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year Loves! I didn't have much time to dedicate a post to closing out 2017 with all the holiday madness. December was a busy month for us, our son didn't go on winter break till the 22nd because of the hurricane makeup days at school and I was working almost every night those last two weeks before Christmas till 1am (you know how retail is that time of year). I also hosted our Christmas Eve party this year. As you can see I was busy, busy, busy.

For my first post of 2018 I wanted to share with you all my goals for the year. I have to say this might be the first year that I set goals and share them with others. I always thought it was best to keep things to yourself. That way if you accomplished them or not, no one would know but you. This year is going to be different though, I want to create a vision board and be able to see it everyday. I want to share my goals with you all and be able to come back here and say I crushed them.

TAKE MORE CLASSES.

Some of you know that I am currently enrolled in school. However, I am only going part time because of work and of course my kids. Taking two classes each semester has been pretty stressful for me but I know that I am capable of taking one or two more per semester. I know it will take more time away spent from my husband and kids but reality is the faster I finish these classes the faster I can graduate.

READ, READ, READ.

My goal is to try to read at least 6 books this year. It doesn't sound like much but it's important to set a realistic goal. I want to read books that are inspiring and motivating. If you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments.

TRAVEL.

This one is going to be the hardest for me. I want to be able to take a fun family vacation every year. I tend to spend a lot though and I know that this will mean I will have to take saving money seriously. I do have a plan for this that I believe will work but that just means I will have to put in more work on my blog.

FOCUS ON FITNESS.

As i'm finishing up this post i'm thinking how on earth will I have time to work out with all the time that my family, school, work, and the blog require. I don't know if I am pushing it a little with this one but I have to try. I am not trying to loose weight I just want to get fit. There has been plenty of times where my husband and I start working out and then all of a sudden we stop. My goal is to focus on preventing that from happening again. I know we can do it.

2018 I am ready! I know it's going to be hard but doable. There is a quote posted on the stairs at my school that says "There's no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs."

That is the first quote that's going up on my vision board. Do you all have any goals for this year? What are they? Let's crush them together!

Photo Cred: FranciscoL.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide | Top 5 Tech Toys For Kids

2017-12-03T00:11:00.001-05:00

Shopping for kids can be fun but sometimes a hassle. In my personal opinion though toys that serve as a dual purpose are my favorite. Giving children gifts that are not only fun but educational is the way to go. I have put together my top 5 tech toys that both girls and boys can enjoy and benefit from.

1. Square Panda- square panda is a phonics learning play set that helps kids 2-8 learn to read through fun games. The playset uses physical and digital learning to engage kids through the age appropriate games. Every play session helps children explore the alphabet, letter sounds, discover rhymes, build vocabulary and more. The square panda play set is by far my favorite! BUY HERE

2. V-Tech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX- The V-Tech smartwatch is a great gift that will do more than tell time. The V-Tech Smartwatch has fun games and activities that can help kids with simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems. Children are also able to take pictures and videos with the watch. Pretty cool if you ask me. This watch is intended for ages 4-9 and comes in two colors blue and violet. BUY HERE

3. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Smart Cycle- Another great gift for young children is this Think & Learn Smart Cycle. The concept is the more kids pedal, the more they learn. The smart cycle is equipped with bluetooth technology, it has games that helps kids learn letters, phonics, spelling, rhyming and more. Intended for kids aged 36 months- 6 years. BUY HERE

4. Osmo Genius Kit- The Osmo kit is designed for kids aged 5-12. Osmo is a game system that fosters creativity and problem solving skills through hands on play. It encourages visual thinking, problem solving , and creative drawing skills. BUY HERE

5. Kano Computer Kit- With this Kano computer kit your child can learn to code art, games, and music. The playful step by step challenges lets them use simple code blocks, type code, and linux command. Kano teaches children to create, not consume technology. Kano computer kit is intended for ages 6-14 years. BUY HERE

This holiday season give your children fun gifts that will keep them entertained but at the same time will help them learn and encourage them to create. Happy holidays!

Cinnamon Apple Pecan Pancakes | Fall Recipe

2017-11-26T17:15:00.001-05:00

Fall season calls for some delicious apples and what better way to enjoy them than topped on some good old fashioned pancakes. Pancakes are well loved in my household. We all like them with certain toppings but I have to say this version has become my favorite. It's the perfect breakfast idea for a Sunday morning with the family. Enjoy these delicious pancakes with a cup of milk or a nice hot cup of coffee.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes | Servings: 10-12 pancakes

Ingredients:

For the pancake mix

2 eggs
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

For the apple topping

2 gala apples, diced
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp sugar
2 tsp brown sugar
Cinnamon to taste
1/2 cup of pecans

Directions:

In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs, vegetable oil, and milk.
In a separate bowl sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix well.
Add butter to your griddle or non-stick pan.
Heat to medium high heat.
Pour 1/4 cup batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook for about 1-2 minutes until it begins to bubble or the edges are golden brown.
While the pancakes are on the griddle heat up a pan to medium heat.
Add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir it for about 30 seconds.
Add the diced apples to the sauce and cook for about 5-7 minutes until soft.
Serve your pancakes, add the apple glaze on top, sprinkle some pecans, and drizzle them with syrup and enjoy!

Black Friday Shopping Tips!

2017-11-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

Black Friday is definitely one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year for most of us. Black Friday is following the day after Thanksgiving, which many take as an official day to start holiday shopping. Stores roll out their biggest sales of the year. Within the last few years though we have seen black Friday move to Thursday. This year they have even started the black Friday deals sooner. I put together a few tips that can help you get through that shopping trip a lot smoother.

Make A Plan/List- Start off by making a list of what it is that you really want to get your hands on. Maybe a specific toy for the kids? Appliances or electronics? What ever it is write it down. Once you have that list down it's time for step number 2.
Research, Research, Research- Do your research! Most retailers begin rolling out the ads ahead of time. You can actually find some ads online right now. Once you find all the ads of the retailers that you need to go to start comparing prices on the items on your list. Some retailers offer a free gift card with a purchase of a certain amount so keep that in mind. If one item is cheaper at store A but you can get a free gift card at store B than you automatically know which is a better deal. Also, be sure to ask a sales associate if their store will roll out a map of where the sales items will be located on that day.
Teamwork- If you know someone that is going to the same store as you work together as a team. Black Friday is a crazy, thrilling experience because everyone is literally running to get to the items they want. If your friend, family member, or spouse are going with you remember to split up. Each one of you can take a different direction in the store.
Get an early start- Like I mentioned earlier some retailers release the ads ahead of time and some retailers even begin some of the sale prices a few days before. So keep an eye out on that and take advantage.
Safety first- As exciting as this shopping day is the one thing we need to keep in mind at all times is our safety. Make sure to take a purse that will securely close and keep it with you at all times. There will be large crowds so its best to keep belongings in front pockets. Be alert of your surroundings when you leave the store. If possible try to walk to your car when other people are outside too and look around you to make sure no one is following you to your car.
Should I bring my kids?- The best answer is no, there will be people pushing and you don't want your little ones to get hurt. However if you have no one to watch your kids and you have to take them with you make sure you pack plenty of healthy snacks in your bag. You will be dealing with long lines, kids get impatient, maybe even fussy. Having snacks is a good way to keep them busy and happy.
Skip it and go online shopping- If black Friday is not for you, skip it! Not everyone enjoys going out and waiting in lines. If thats the case for you, you can sit at home and enjoy some online shopping. Some retailers actually have the same doorbuster deals online at the same time as their doors open.

Affordable DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

2017-11-16T00:20:00.001-05:00

Is anyone else excited that Christmas is only 40 days away? We already put up our tree and hopefully will start putting up lights this weekend. Something that I believe makes Christmas that more exciting is counting down the days with an advent calendar. Especially with little ones at home, seeing their faces when we get to only a few days away is amazing. However, advent calendars can be pretty expensive at the store depending on what you want , so I made ours this year. I usually go to Pinterest for inspiration and just go from there. I like to gather a few pictures of different ideas and use something from each.

For this specific advent calendar I made it my goal to try not to spend over ten dollars. I already had some supplies on hand like a scissors and a stapler but even if you don't have those items on hand you can find them at the dollar store. Heres what you need:

Supplies needed:

1 foam board
24-25 paper cups (depends on if you want to use a gift box for day 25)
Bakers twine
Number stickers
Tissue paper
Rubber bands
Treats
Large Eye Needle
Stapler
I small gift box (optional)
Craft paper roll (optional)
Decorative stickers (optional)

Instructions:

If you are using craft paper, you will begin by covering the foam board with the paper folding it towards the back and then tape it down. Then flip it back to the front side.
Its very important to know by this point how many cups you want per row. I used between 5-7 cups per row.
Grab your tissue paper and cut out 24 circles about 1-2 inches bigger than the cups. I used 4 tissue paper sheets and folded them in 4 before I cut them. Set aside.
Thread the bakers twine through the needle, make a knot and thread through the cups. Staple the twine on both ends down to the foam board to keep it in place ( I stapled it about 3 times to make sure it would hold). Repeat for remaining cups.
Add the numbers to the cups. If you can't find number stickers you can also write them with a sharpie.
Stand all cups, place your treats inside the cups and place the tissue paper sheet on top and add the rubber band to hold it together. (super easy)
To finish it off you can add more stickers to the cups and board.

**The reason I chose to use a small gift box for day 25 was so that I can place a bigger treat inside for Christmas morning.

This DIY is super easy and fun to make. The only part that was a little time consuming was threading the needle through each side of the cup but doable. Have fun with it, be creative, the options are endless. You can always choose a certain theme or certain color scheme to fit your style. I purchased all the supplies at the dollar tree with the exception of the number stickers and twine, those I found at Target in the dollar spot section so make sure you hurry in and see what you find.

Pumpkin Patch Fun | Mario & Luigi Costume

2017-11-01T20:48:00.004-04:00

Halloween is officially over but before we move on to the upcoming holidays I wanted to share some of our pictures from the pumpkin patch. We always have a good time and this pumpkin patch has been our favorite for a while now. It's small compared to other ones but the way they set up each year is simply beautiful.

If any of you live in south Florida please let me know where is your favorite pumpkin patch located and maybe we can go next year. Last night we took the kids to church where they had trunk or treat. We had a great time and the kids costume were a hit! Can you guess who they dressed up as? If you follow me on Instagram (here) than you know they were Mario and Luigi. I already have a few ideas for next year so hopefully my oldest will still cooperate with me (crossing fingers)..

...and here they are in their Mario & Luigi costume. They are actually wearing pajamas, I saw these at target and I picked them up because it was actually cheaper to buy the pajamas over the actual costumes. The plus to that is that they are able to wear them as much as they want. I bought the masks at party city for five bucks each and called it a day.

Game of Thrones | Mother of Dragons | Costume Idea

2017-10-25T12:33:00.001-04:00

On my last halloween costume idea for kids I mentioned I had another fun idea that would include both myself and the kids and here it is. A fun twist on "Game of Thrones", Mother of Dragons. I recently finished watching seasons 1-7. I actually had never heard of the show until about a few months ago when everyone was talking about season 7 finale. Im sad because I am obsessed with the show now and I believe they are only having one more season. About our costumes...

Lets start with the kids dragon costumes. I thought about doing a diy project on the dragon wings and face but then I came across these amazing dragon costumes at Marshall's for only $25. Even though its a bit pricey it's not as much as you would pay at a halloween store and to be honest these look way better! You might still be able to find them in stores if you're interested.

So of course anyone that is a fan of the show knows the kind of outfits that Daenery's wears but I wanted a more modern twist to it. Not to mention actually finding a dress like the ones she wears would be extremely pricey. I had the idea to ask my cousin Michelle to please make me a shirt with the saying "Mother of Dragons" on it and she made it happen. I paired it with some black ripped jeans (fashion nova) and some boots to give it an edgy vibe and just like that you have a fun costume.

If any one you are interested in buying a shirt you can always message me on Instagram and we can go from there. Halloween is one week away do you have your costumes ready? What are you all dressing up as?

♡

Halloween Treats | Frankenstein Popsicles

2017-10-14T11:24:00.001-04:00

Just because summer is over doesn't mean we can't enjoy popsicles in the fall. My kids love popsicles so I thought why not make some halloween inspired popsicles. I wasn't sure how they would turn out since usually when you make popsicles you just freeze your mixture and hours later they are ready to eat. To make a Frankenstein face though I had to decorate these after (right before eating) but they still came out cute. Heres what you need:

Preparation time: 10 min | Cooking time: 4 hrs | Total time: 4hr 10 min | Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

-1 box of Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding

-2 cups of milk

-Candy Eyeballs

-Green food coloring
-Chocolate Fudge (hard shell)

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl follow directions stated on Jell-O box.

2. Add about 4 drops of the food coloring and mix well.

3. Pour mixture in molds and freeze for 4 hours or overnight.

4. Dip mold in warm water for about 30-45 sec to release popsicles.

5. Put them on a plate and with a popsicle stick add the chocolate fudge (hard shell) for the hair, eyes, and mouth.

6. While the chocolate is still wet add the candy eyes and your done.

* Popsicle mold I use. Currently on sale for half off (includes a recipe booklet) and I buy my sticks from the dollar tree.

There are so many different halloween treats all over Pinterest and I was surprised not to see any cold treats so I thought these would be the perfect addition to a fun, yummy, halloween treat. They turned out to be very creamy and delicious I really hope you all give them a try.