Sweet Story... A must read!

While checking emails this morning I came across this headline news story.  I was captivated by the title so I read further.  What a sweet story of a couple married 72 years, whom passed in the hospital, holding hands, only an hour apart.  Now that's what I call true love.  Read the article HERE  May this be a reminder to us all to tell our family, kiddos, spouses, friends, and loved ones how much we care about them!  Now go give someone a big hug and smooch! 
Enjoy your Thursday!  XOXO - B

Bon Voyage, Beach Bound

What is it about going to the coast that is so magical?  The smell? The tastes? The water? The sunsets? The laid back living?  I would think all of the above and then some.  For Fall Break we decided to get in one more family trip before the busy holidays.  We are headed to the coast, San Diego that is for some R&R with our family.  I'm so excited to see my brother and sister in law who have been away almost a year.  I can't wait to build sandcastles with my boys and nephews, go for long bike rides on the boardwalk, eat delish food, and enjoy night walks on the sand with my hubby.  It will be a great trip and I'll be sure to post some pictures as soon as we are back.  To get in the mood for some California Dreamin' on a winters day (Gotta love the mamas and the paps) enjoy these fun photos!  See you soon dolls!

All Prints VIA

The Beauty Bag Thursday - "Beautiful Blessings"

Hello Loves! So for the Beauty Bag Thursday I have a different approach today.  Many products from the Beauty land can help us achieve our personal best.  I mean lets be honest, without my Chi iron I would look like a frizzy ball poodle, and without my Tarte eyebrow pencil well... My eyebrows would be a tad scary.  My Clarasonic Skin brush keeps my face dry skin free, and I couldn't live without my Bare Minerals.  Yes the Beauty world does indeed help us look our best... However so does remembering our blessings, giving service, being generous and nurturing to others and doing what makes us happy. When we remember those around us and show love and gratitude that spiritual goodness shines through.  Out inward souls really do create that outward beauty.  So, For the next few days I will be enjoying my blessings (that are my children and Husband) and spending every second with them playing and giving them my time.  The Hubs took the rest of the week off and we are going to have some quality family time.  So blogging world I will resume blogging on Monday, and until then I will be thriving in the time I have with my loves, and enjoying the beauty they bring to my life and soul.  Enjoy you weekend and be grateful for your blessings.
- XOXO, B

VIA

Spiritual Sunday - "Anyways..."

This quote says it all.  Make today a great one full of love and smiles.
XOXO - B

VIA

Momma Monday - SIgning Off

Happy Monday!  Today my Momma Monday post is not a post... I know that is a little ironic "how can a post, not be a post"?  Let me explain... Today I will be home all day with my loves.  It's a play day, it's literally  momma Monday.   We will be baking, making play dough, watching movies, and making forts today.  With that said, I am signing off the computer and going to enjoy my kiddos.  I hope you also have a chance soon to sign off for the day and enjoy your lovies.   Come bake tomorrow for a delish recipe featured on Tasteful Tuesday. 
-XOXO

Little bit of simple bliss...

Don't you love when you have a moment when you stumble across something so beautiful or happy that your stomach does a little flip flop and flutters?  That happened to me this week...numerous times.  I made a pledge to myself to "be in the moment" no matter whom I'm with and where I am.  In other words, if I'm playing a board game with my sweet boys I'm THERE with them.  I'm not thinking of the dishes, or what to make for dinner, or if I called my friend back about tomorrows play date.  I'm 100% engaged to them.  With this new pledge I have also gained beautiful moments I will always treasure.  Every morning the boys and I make smoothies to go along with our breakfasts and for daddy. He adores them.  On Wednesday when we finished the delish blended fruit Ky gave me a huge hug and said "thanks for taking care of us mom"... YEP! Butterflies of happiness in my tummy.  Or how about on Saturday as we were at the pool as a family and all four of us were on our towels in a row eating PB&J and licking the cold watermelon from our chins? YEP!  Happy flip flops once again.  Everyday is filled with pure excitement and bliss if we consciously engage ourselves in each and every moment and don't try and be 100 places in one second.  One of the best moments of the week? When our wedding song came on Pandora radio and my sweet hubby danced with me in the kitchen... It's these everyday simple moments of bliss that make everyday so sweet.

Maureau Morning Smoothie:

• 4 large frozen Whole Strawberries
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup of  Greek yogurt (vanilla, plain, or strawberry)
• handful of crushed ice
• 8 ounces of fat free milk (or soy)
• 4 ounces of Orange Juice
• 1 TBS of Honey or agave nectar
• 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of frozen yogurt (we like vanilla)
• 1 large scoop of vanilla soy protein.

Mix in a blender until pureed then pour into cold glass cups and serve with straws.

May's Favorite things and a New Designer: Kendra Scott

My fabulous sister is the author of the wonderfully inspiring blog Swirls of Happy.  Her recent post on color found HERE left me thinking about one of my newest favorites whom is a designer who uses COLOR! I was quickly inspired to write about her,  Kendra Scott.  Her Color wheel is genius, and she is just as adorable as one can get.  Check out her delicious designs on this link: Click Me  Kendra recently did a makeover and a dream wedding for a bride and her husband to be whom has been deployed in the service. She featured the giveaway on the Rachel Ray show. Needless to say my eyes were filled with tears, it was a very sweet and kind gesture.  You can read and watch the video about this all American couple and fabulous designer  HERE.  Onto the Favorites!  Every month I will post a list of my current favorites. Here are May's:












The new OPI color "Sparrow me the Drama" from their summer collection. It is a perfect pink-purple-nude color.
















I still can't get enough of these versatile dresses since last season.. They are comfy, and chic, and can be layered with a cardigan and a waist belt. So fab!





Lip Stain in "passion".  I have been going sans makeup in this heat and if I apply this pink color and a coat of mascara I am good to go.  Plus its only $7!  Beauty Bargain!

This past four months I joined a Modern dance group.  The teacher was amazing, inspiring, and tough.  I constantly had bruises, pulled muscles, and tore my body apart.  It was one of the most physically challenging things I've done (even more than my triathlon), as it used muscles, poise, and concentration I did not know I had.  It was a fabulous class and it enabled me to do something for my artistic outlet.

I LOVE my usual "creamy nutmeg" candle but for the summer I like something fresh and this is my go to scent for our home. (Plus how happy is this color)! The Caribbean escape is wonderful also and comes in a Pink hue.

I am in LOVE with this cream formula from MAC.  This color is Posey and gives my cheeks a moisture surge of pinky perfect color for the summer. Thank you MAC

I am a follower of the Stilla tinted moisturizer but during my wedding I found this little number.  It Illuminates to a pearl finish and also primes my skin for my bare esenctuals.  It is a MUST in my make up bag.  You can get it HERE

Paradise Bakery...Ahhh...How I love thee.  Their Sesame chicken salad with a side of fire roasted tomato soup is my go to dinner with the kiddos when the Hubs is traveling for work.  I can't go through my week without making two stops (yes two a week) to pick up their lemon zester cookie and plain sugar cookie. Heaven on earth.  I have a mock recipe for these that I will be trying this weekend and will post how it turns out!

Mary Pope Osborne is a genius children's writer and has got my boys hooked!  Jerron is so into these books and can't put them down!  He currently just bought the newest book "The crazy day of the Cobra" at his school's book fair.  After each book he finishes he gets to choose a restaurant to go to on a family date.  I love that he loves to read! (and that he chooses yummy restaurants! Pei Wei, Paradise, Red Robin, Oregano's) He definitely has his mommas sense of food. Go grab some of the books in this series for your kiddos.





This new family favorite.  Giada's Chicken Pastina...Find the recipe HERE It's so easy and delish. The hubby and kids adore it.












Hands Down the BEST moisturizer ever!  They have an entire line of skincare that I am an avid believer in.  I personally use the foaming cleanser, AM lotion (which contains 30spf), PM lotion at night and the Cerave cream on my gams and feet. The regular body lotion is fabulous too for daily care.  Jerron my 8 year old has the worst eczema and if I lather him up head to toe with the cream he never has breakouts, and his current dry skin patches are dramatically improving.  The best part is you can grab it at CVS or Walgreens and it is inexpensive at $10-$20 depending on the product!  Yeah! 



















My Trader Joes Herb Garden.  This cute little herb garden comes in a hand crafted wooden planter with three slots for Basil, Italian Parsley, and Thyme.  Its perfect in my kitchen and I adore cooking with fresh herbs, plus the kiddies have fun taking care of it!










Popcorn Indiana is a fav snack in our home. I carry the single serve bags in my purse at all times. Our family favorites are the kettle corn, cinna sugar, and aged white cheddar.  Even better is they are all natural. Now that is Yummy!

New Beginnings and a Good Day

New. The word can bring scary thoughts, and exciting thoughts all at once. We all get stuck in our comfort zones, and our creature habits.  We love our daily routines of habitual mundane steps, our familiar surroundings and usual, everyday faces.  On the flip side, New can bring unfamiliarity, unusual practices, and lead our souls and feet into unknown waters.  The breath of fresh air in these words is that every single day we are given a fresh start, and a new day.  What a blessing it is to be alive in this amazing, and quite sensational world.  I have a chalkboard in our kitchen, next to the breakfast nook and every week I scribble a thought for the boys and hubby to ponder.  This week, it is "Today is a New day".  The short reality is this: We are human. We are not perfect. We make mistakes.  We get lazy. We get tired. We get stuck in our own lives. We don't get to-do lists done. We miss appointments. We run late.  The Lesson is this: Try a little harder everyday, and be grateful we have a chance at a new beginning each and everyday when the sun comes up.  How glorious! Another little note I have hanging in our home is in the boys bedroom, it reads, "Today is a Good Day".  I hope we all take this to heart.  Again, I reiterate, It is a blessing, a gift, from up above that we are here and can learn, and experience daily life and all the joy and sorrow each day brings.  Happiness is relative and the day will always be what you make it.  Wake up with a smile, a word of appreciation for your kiddos, husbands, friends, and all other things magnificent and take on the day with the sun shining in your heart and a song on your lips.  To get in the spirit please, please, treat yourself to this lovely little track that the boys and I listen too everyday while driving to school.  Priscilla Ahn "Good Day"... It will not disappoint!  Here is my list of things that always guarantee a good day for moi:

• Waking up to these three handsome boys
• Cooking, baking and eating dinner everynight (especially cooking from Giada's recipies)
• Watching the husband play baseball at the park every evening eith the boys(also the highlight of their day)
• Hugs and Playtime with my two little loves (Mr. Spastic and Mr. Happy Pants)
• Daily snack of Yogurt and Granola(MMMM...Can't live without it)
• Sonic Happy Hour
• Listening to Joshua Radin while getting dressed
• Bedtime Story time and scripture reading (guarantees snuggle time)
• Making a stranger smile while running errands
• Chat time with Girlfriends
• Candle burning while picking up the house at night