Kid-friendly Carrot Zucchini Mini Muffins

Good Morning, GOOD MORNING,

Long time no chat— In fact, it has only been, oh what, 330 days-ish since my last post!! Can you tell I had a baby and collected another degree in that time, ha! Anywho, my blogging skills are so subpar these days, I don’t even know how to re-post this delicious recipe I just Pinvestigated from the original site…. so let me go ahead  and give some street cred to Cupcakes & Kale Chips!!

AND HERE IS THE SCOOP

Ingredients

• • 1 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or honey)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup finely grated zucchini
  • 1/2 cup finely grated carrot
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and place rack in the center of the oven, and coat a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the butter, maple syrup (or honey), egg, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir together until just barely combined.
5. Add the zucchini, carrot and raisins and stir gently until just distributed.
6. Fill each cup in the mini muffin pan approximately ¾ full (I use a small cookie scoop slightly overfilled).
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Aren’t you LOVING how there is no granulated SUGAR added to this recipe, just some good ole Maple Syrup; my 50% Canadian babe was even licking his fingers to savor the flavor =)

 

Beck Baby tested, mother approved =)

Thank you again Cupcakes & Kale Chips for this SUHWEEET find.

 

Until Next Year (tee-hee),

Kelley B.

 

Master Bathroom Renovation Revealed

Buenos Dias Blog World!!

ToooooDAY is the DAY!! Baby Boosh’s due date ❤ (he is still happily baking as of this morning) & the Master Bathroom Renovation =  A SUCCESS STORY & completed just in time!!

If you will remember from last weeks post, I wasn’t so sure if my last minute master bath reno project that I pulled the trigger on at 32 weeks pregnant was panning out to be such a great pinvestigation after all… up until 3 days ago there was no functioning bathtub or shower, but at a minimum I did at least have a pot to piss in, lol!

In summary, my failed zika virus poo pooed Hawaiian  babymoon trip turned  babymoon+staycation Master Bathroom Oasis project ended up being a FABULOUS hormonally induced last minute decision!

SIDE NOTE: I’m not going to lie, baby boy has been very good to his momma thus far during pregnancy, heck my vision even IMPROVED, so although I may seem like a crazy ambitious pregnant girl  it’s most likely because this whole pregnancy thing has been the easy part=) I would probably NOT recommend taking on a renovation (even if you are hiring somebody like I did–ya, I’m not this handy peeps) into your 3rd trimester, living in a dust-filled disaster zone if your body does not do pregnancy/ raging hormones well…

BEFORE….

Brown, Bulkhead, Brass and Seashell Sinks, Oooh My!

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The Master Bath Oasis Retreat

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Want MORE Deets on the Design Elements?

accent tile, fixtures, faucets, flooring, tub, counter top, wall color, etc…

Just leave me a comment and I would be happy to answer/assist =) =) Now that I will be on maternity leave, I have decided to dabble in design consulting from the couch, ha! Just kidding, but I would be happy to help!

Happy Renovating &

Stay Tuned for the Arrival of Baby Boosh!!!

A Babymoon+Staycation Combo, Does It Have to Bite Like Zika?

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Hi Family, Friends & Blog World!

It has been a while, I knoooow!!

Since finding out we were expecting a little nugget, man how we have been on the move. Literally, we have since moved cross country twice in the past year, made an offer on a house sight unseen in a different state & taken on a renovation project  that is still not complete with T-Minus 2 weeks till Baby Boosh. To say I am a slight disazz may be a bit of an understatement, but YOLO  right!!

Speaking of ‘you only live once’, you may be wondering about my somewhat oxymoron of a blog title. A Staycation + Babymoon combo, SAY WHAT?!?!?

Well moral of the story, this whole Zika virus epidemic has really put a damper on travels not only for expecting moms, but pretty much anybody who may want to conceive in the near-ish future to a tropical paradise (let’s just say I stopped looking at CDC Zika virus updates when I put a kabosh on our Hawaiian Babymoon…& when I say I, what I really mean is my ob/gyn back in CO who laid on a heavy guilt trip & basically told me I was risking the life of my unborn child by going to Hawaii… #EVENaVAYCAYintheUSofA!?!

(Did I also forget to mention that just prior to finding out I was pregnant & before this whole Zika business was even on the radar the hubster & I went on a flashlight-guided bioluminescence tour in a swamp of Puerto Rico… Oh yah, I’m already flippin mom of the year over here and haven’t even given birth yet, ha!)

Soooo circling back around to this staycation /babymoon theory…When Zika threatened my last D.I.N.K  oasis getaway (that’s right, Dual Income, No Kids) this girl had to start evaluating her options…that and the whole just moved to Colorado, posted up in a two bedroom apartment, living the ski-bunny lifestyle, no family around…. (but that’s a story for another day =)

 SOLUTION:

Bring the Hawaiian Oasis/ Babymoon dream home = renovate that 23 year-old bathroom we just purchased & make it into our very own everyday getaway. I’m a realist over here people & believe every mom/soon-to-be mom should have her own little escape at home BECAUSE we all  know with a newborn you ain’t leaving the casa for long alone anytime soon !! And no I’m not saying everybody’s solution should  mean a complete bathroom overhaul, I am just saying every mom should have something nice  to enjoy on the regular that does NOT go on a baby registry!

Oh and if Zika truly bit the big one on your babymoon plans, I would still highly recommend you and your baby daddy  fance it up one last time at a nice hotel even if that means in your hometown, D.I.N.K style =) And if you are one of those moms judging me right now and rolling your eyeballs thinking I’m living in La La land over here… well La Ti Da =)

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

TO MY VERY OWN WISE MOMMA OF SIX KIDS

FOR ENCOURAGING ME  TO TAKE ON  WHAT SEEMED LIKE

A KIND OF A CRAZY, NOT  NECESSARILY

 NECESSARY BATHROOM RENO AT 32 WEEKS….

BECAUSE SHE SAID I DESERVED IT, THANKS MOMMA ❤

I AGREE THAT EVERY MOM DOES!!!

Without further ado, a sneak peak into our Staycation Renovation

At 38 weeks preggo, stay tuned until next week when I am hoping I can share a big reveal of a Master Bath Retreat while baby boy continues to happily bake until his due date! The pinvestigation continues on whether or not a 32 week reno start date is a good idea or not…

June 31st or BUST!

Kelley B.

Valentine’s Day Special Family Addition <3 !

Hi Family, Friends & Followers =)

 

If you haven’t figured out the special addition aspect quite yet,  

click on the pic & take a closer look at those heart candy messages!

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Love is in the air and we have a sweet treat to share!! Baby Bouchard is on the way, ETA August 2016!!!   recently moved up to July 2016 !! SUPRISED?!? (no worries, we love fun surprises too 😉

More deets ya say? Can you believe that out of the first 3 pregnancy test I took  I got ONE  yes and TWO questions marks (?). Literally  a QUESTION MARK  SYMBOL popped up twice (why is that even a reasonable option)??  And did I mention this was a fancy, digital  “First Response” preggo test….Has this ever happened to to you?  

Moral of the story, I suppose I should have just followed directions and waited to take the test first pee of the morning… buuuut even though I knew this fun fact, I was on the way to the airport to pick up friends to go skiing & celebrate my friend’s promotion that night with some hottubing and champs!! I felt like I kinda needed to know if a baby was brewing since my plans that night were not conducive for baby baking.

Anywho the next 2 were  positive and therefore I had to come up with a way to keep our secret since we had people planning to visit and ski the next 3 holiday weekends. Now why is the whole ski thing such an issue you may ask??

Skiing  leads to >apres ski (happy  hour) > hot-tubing = not so great for preggos & the nugget

My cover story over the Christmas holiday… explosive diarrhea. Yes you read that right, I told everybody who offered me up an adult beverage that I got salmonella food poisoning a few days prior (therefore I could not drink or eat questionable foods like sushi), had to send in a poop culture, and was taking an antibiotic 4 times a day that can cause liver damage (flagyl my friends). The best part, worked like a charm because NOBODY ever questions an explosive diarrhea poop disease 😉 And you know who your true friends are because everybody still chose to hang out with me even after my  lovely cover up story!

Now that this nugget is a confirmed healthy fetus, I would like to apologize to everybody who had to hear about my fake poop issues (Katie, cousins, fam )

I would also like to note that after the holidays, I gave the poop story up and settled for a more pleasant excuse of “I’m detoxing from alcohol the first month of the year”. That excuse probably only works in January when everybody tolerates everybody else’s ridiculous new years resolutions that most likely fall through by the end of January. Regardless, that one also worked well too =) You may be asking yourself why I did not just say I wasn’t feeling an adult beverage, but lets be realistic people…If you know me, I’m not about to turn down a yummy glass of red wine after a long day of work or champs at brunch unless something is up (liiiike growing a human-being for instance). I work in healthcare  and wine is my RX that keeps me sane =) Since I have had to cut myself off, I have slightly increase my dark chocolate intake to compensate =) =)

The Baby Announcement

How did I tell my Momma?

My mom does not like traveling, detest driving long distances and hates flying. She told me there were only a couple of reasons why she would ever jump on a plane from Texas to Colorado. So as a Christmas present I knew she would hate me buying her a ticket to Colorado, but looooove the news of a new grand-baby on the way (ahem, also a reason to get on a plane to Colorado 😉 ) . So, I whipped up this fake e-ticket, printed it out and sent it her way!! Although it was hard not telling her on the phone before the ticket arrived, the call I received once she figured out her terrible Christmas Present turned out to be the BEST PRESSIE of 2015 was priceless!!

Want the FREE PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT PLANE TICKET PRINTABLE?? (just click below and customize)

Baby Announcement FREE PRINTABLE

How did I tell the rest of the Fam?

Well, my creative photography side + MAJOR SWEET TOOTH came into play here. I opted out of the common heart-onesie idea or pair of baby shoes announcement and followed my gut… personalized Necco Valentine’s Day Heart Candy of course ;). What better way to spread the love and share some sweet news than with candy and a  heart-day card?!?  Okay so maybe a bit still cheesy, but festive fo sho!

Fun Fact: As of Valentine’s Day, the doc is telling me that I am 16 weeks and baby B is about the size of an avocado (4 1/2 inches long  and 3 1/2 ounces). So far feeling great, clothes still fit &  don’t even really feel pregnant yet (knock on wood).

I hope everybody has an oh so very Happy  Happy Heart Day!!

Oh & stay tuned to the blog for more Baby B updates in the future!!

>>>Just 4 more weeks until we find out if Baby B is a BOY or GIRL !!

Kelley&Eric<3

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating Small Spaces – 7 Tips I used in my Living Room Makeover

Hi friends!

Today I’m going to share with you how I turned my small, narrow, rented living room into a bright, cozy, inviting space!

Before…>>The  layout

1. Choose a Neutral Color Scheme 

Neutral, monochromatic, light shade color schemes will always prevail to darker ones  in helping a room feel more spacious! It’s a fact that lighter colors reflect more light (eh hem, picture the Rockies covered in endless amounts of snow and why you always come home sun-burned if your not prepared) where darker colors absorb it.  Feel free to add small pops of color for fun=)

Here you can see I went with creams, beige, brown, gold and some gray =)

another positive:  If you own your space, neutral color schemes (especially on the walls) are  helpful when it comes back around to selling your house! Again, your house will feel more spacious and the potential buyer is better able to picture their junk in your casa!

2. Let There Be LIGHT!

So we have already established that a brighter room feels bigger than a darker one. Therefor, try to incorporate items into your room that help increase or reflect light  such as: lamps, mirrors, clear glass or even durable plastic furniture, metal pieces & shiny objects. Tip: try to position these objects where they are able to reflect the most light (near a window, a mirror behind a lamp, ect).

You can see here where I could not resist a few pops of color  and I’m utilizing mirror + glass =)  In my next picture below and pic #7, you can  see where I even sneaked a hint of reflective fabric into my metallic diamond  Tarje Rug

3.Create Interest without the Clutter

I know I know, there is probably a bit more going on here in my living room than I should have put up, BUT mostly just on the wall. And to my credit, I moved from a larger home so I had A LOT of decorative  stuff that had to go into storage. Moral of the story, LESS= MORE especially in small spaces, but sometimes I like to bend my own rules 😆

If you have not noticed yet, I believe everybody’s home should reflect their own style and I tend to gravitate towards a variety of styles (depends my mood and my inspiration piece really). I like to create interest with different  fabric, textures, patterns, pieces, arrangements and furniture.

For instance, I have an old heirloom traditional mirror from Canada (noticed positioned to reflect light behind the lamp ;), a shabby chic white lamp, contemporary rug & chairs, traditional coffee table, a wall collage of randomness and a pillow obsession.

Do what works for you to reflect your style & avoid  being too “Rooms to Go”  literally matchy matchy. On the other hand, in order to maintain some cohesiveness throughout the room make sure the items you  choose have some recurrent themes like: coordinate with your color scheme, made of same material [hard wood, mirrors, metal], more than one certain style of item, ect)

My Pillow Obsession =)

Tip: If you are terrible at visualizing different pillows, fabrics ect,  in a room, buy them, try them and return the ones that don’t work (obviously inquire about the return policy first 😉 Oh, and don’t forget to buy one comfortable pillow for the hubster. It will generally be the cheapest one he prefers. In my case, he likes the long gray one from Ross for $7.00

4. Maintain Open Sight Lines

As obvious as it sounds, in order to maintain open sight lines, choose furniture or items that don’t obstruct the view. For instance, I think a recurrent problematic theme in small rooms is how to create more seating without making the room feel small. In my case, I chose armless chairs with low backs from Target and opted for some short fluffy stools that I found at Ross . Other things I considered included a bench, poufs & storage ottomans. I also incorporated items in the room that double as storage like my coffee table and the two wicker baskets in order to reduce the amount of clutter out in the open.

5. Emphasize the Positives About the Room

In my situation, the living room has two major pluses.

>> Almost an entire wall of glass sliding doors  that allows for a ton of natural light

>>Tall ceilings

You can see in the previous picture the amount of natural light that pours into the room through the glass doors… In order to take advantage of this light but still maintain privacy, white curtains were hung to allow the most light through when closed & were flanked by dark chocolate brown ones for interest. The curtain rod was already hung when I moved in, but if I was allowed to change it I would move it up higher  towards the ceiling to create the illusion of a bigger room.

Next, I hung some decor that draws the eye up, again creating the feel of a larger room

6. Minimize the Negatives About the Room

My living room came with some funky angles and niches that are not exactly equal. In order to offset this strange design, I tried to create the illusion of symmetry, by accenting this area with a balanced design  Same wrought iron pieces flanking the TV, same vases, same floral, same nights stands, ect. And of course, we are already addressing the small, narrow space issue of the room =)

 

7. Add a Few Small Memorable Items that make you SMILE!

One of my favorite small items in the living room is a 3-D connect four game. I secretly love this item because it is unique, we found it during a little weekend vaycay to Galveston and I beat the husband playing it 99.9% of the time =) 

Some more of my favorite small items include: photos (isn’t my newphew the cutest!!) a fun zip-lock glass candy bowl and a digital photo frame so I get a variety of pictures without taking up too much space =) =)

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

Happy Decorating,
Kelley B

15+ Awesomely Practical Gift Ideas !

Check out some of these awesomely useful gifts that are great for any occasion!

Christmas – Birthday – Wedding – New Home- Baby Shower – Engagement – Anniversary – Just for the heck of it !

GOOOOD MORNING WORLD!

When I moved across country just a few months ago, I got a big reality check on what items I owned that are awesomely necessary and others that needed to say hello to my friend Goodwill, or even worse, la basura!! (that’s trash for all my Colorado friends who are not familiar with my TexMex background =)

Below are a few items that survived the journey and are 100% necessary to my activities of daily living!!

1. So this first must-have item assumes that most of my readers drink wine =) If you don’t, that’s okay because I’m sure you know somebody who does and being that I am  a wanna-be-wine-connoisseur (and more importantly work with sick people who can sometimes drive me cray cray), this item is not only useful but keeps me sane…

Without further ado,  The Stemless Wine Glass. I love these because you can put them in the dishwasher, they take up way less room,  you or your guest are less likely to spill the wine and it serves the purpose of containing my grapey goodness!! I could probably even go for some fancy seasonal silver ombre ones like shown below, I mean… they will always be put to good use!

2.  Personalized cutting/cheese board

This was one of my faaavorite personalized wedding gifts (thanks again Courtney!!) I loved it so much in fact that I gifted my mom one too (pictured below) …who apparently thinks it is too nice to actually cut on, but that is besides the point! Can you tell I was watching the Game of Thrones series when I ordered this =)  Anyways, who doesn’t like a little bit of cheese with their wine am I right?? These days  I’m currently into sharp white cheddar!! ps. You can often find dealios on these with Groupon!!

3. Flatware

Flatware is always a great, practical gift that most people never think about buying for themselves (eh hem, muah). And of course, how are you going to cut the cheese, on your new cutting board that you are enjoying with your wine?!? Can you picture my at home happy hour scene right now? This scenario could be yours too 😉

I was recently sent a sample flatware set from  Liberty Table Top and I am glad I decided to pinvestigate this situation. I use to think all utensils were made the same, but that is just not the case after using and comparing them side-by-side. When it comes down to flatware, there are only really three things I have discovered that matter to me…

1) Durability, 2) Style &  3) Shine

Just at first glance, do you have a favorite or the three??

 

Well, two of those spoons are from my mismatched college collection back in the day and the more stylish, shiny spoon on the far right is from Liberty Table Top’s Pearl Collection .

Liberty Table Top Flatware makes their utensils from the finest quality 18-10 nickel/chrome stainless steel and I’m assuming this is what makes the utensils soo shiny and lustrous =) =).

The nurse in me also enjoys the fact that all of the stainless steel is tested for lead and other toxic trace elements to ensure you know exactly what you are putting in your mouth 😉

>>>perfect gift for my future niece>> BABY LIBERTY SPOON TWO BACK… Did I mention Liberty Table Top is the ONLY  manufacturer of flatware in the USA (YAY!!)  I am really digging the complete Pinehurst  & Annapolis Collections

4. Keychain phone charger

I don’t think this needs any explanation.. We have all been in a situation where we are out and desperately need some more juice for our phone!. This little nugget is compatible with most smart phones and micro USB devices with a battery Capacity of 1,000mAh (which to be honest, I’m not sure how mAh equates to time…anybody??) Either way, I can think of more than a few times when this would have come in handy.

5. The Crockpot

As simple as this item may seem, you gotta love it and definitely have to have it!! I mean, what else can you throw a bunch of rando items into before work, let sit for hours, than come home and your house smells aaaahmazing?!? Betcha didn’t know that Kohl’s even sales some with fancy designs eh?

Another handy idea, be the Betty Crocker influence you never thought you could be and give this away with a crockpot cook book! My hubster would love for my crock pot  repertoire to be expanded =)

6. Just click here for my FAVORITE things in 2014.. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on any of these gift giving goodies!!

 

7.  The hedgehog Serving dish 

For all of my entertainers out there, this is just too practical and cute to pass up! Also a great way to prevent spreading germs with multiple grubby hands reaching in one bowl 😉  Less dishes = successful Wine Down Wednesday meetup!

8. The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Give the gift that keeps on giving ,  like a year member ship to a monthly wine club, kid’s museum, amazon prime subscription, dance lessons or subscription Box idea such as: Birchbox (makeup madness) Umba Box (fun crafts), Love with Food (snacks), For the Makers (fashion-forward jewelry projects), Kiwi Crate (moms +kids crafts), Craft Coffee, BarkBox (my pup’s dream box)

9. D.I.Y Medicine Cabinet

This is something nobody ever thinks about until they are not  feeling so hot, but boy will they be thankful for you when they need it. Last year I put together a little D.I.Y medicine cabinet for my family’s white elephant exchange that contained all of my favorite go to OTC meds and first aid gear like: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl Dayquil/Nyquil combo back, BC Powder (the best for migraines and cramps!!>> side note. contains Aspirin so keep away from the kiddos), Pepto, Flonase, Zyrtec, Robitussin,  bandaids,  rubbing alcohol, gauze,  steri strips, neosporin, ect. (I forgot to take a picture at the time, but I just bought a plastic container from Walmart and stuffed it with the goodies mentioned above)

10. Face Mug

I know this may be a stretch, but if you loooooove warm home-made chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk like me… THIS IS AWESOOOME !! It helps control the amount of cookies you eat too because it can only fit about three meaning you have to get off your big bum to eat more =) I also think this would be great for some soup and crackers, popcorn and candies during a movie night or hot coco and peppermint chocolate bark!

 

11. Edible Ink Pens

The crafty side of me could not resist this clever pressie. Back to my love of cookies, it is even more fun to consume them when they are all fanced up & decorated! I suspect this could be a fun Elf on The shelf  or party game opportunity  as well…. 😉

12. Ghirardelli Chocolate Basket

Lets face it, unless you are a diabetic or allergic to chocolate, this present is IRRESISTIBLY awesome and great for all ages. And if you are one of those people who allegedly does not like any type of chocolate (dark, milky, white, peppermint, caramel, ganache, flavored, ect), than we just can’t be friends because you are clearly prejudice… although who am I to judge because I’m pretty much an addict !!

13. D.I.Y Coasters

I think we have already been through this with numero uno, but everybody drinks some sort beverage on a daily basis & ya gotta use a coaster to keep your furniture looking good. The other great thing about D.I.Y coasters… they are customizable, inexpensive, easy to make & cute!

14. Any of these 10 Awesome Beauty/Body Products that I use on reg! (some potentially good for stocking stuffers too)

15. Roomba, Scooba or cleaning service!! 

Did I ever tell you about the time I won a Roomba in college being in the audience on the Dr. Phil Show? What was even more epic, my roommate was in the audience as well so we came home with two dueling Roombas in our apartment!

Since then  my Roomba has died for unknown reasons (potentially the hard life with the suspect 20yr old shaggy apartment carpet), but I so desperately want another one. I’m also very interested in the Scooba (a robot that sweeps, pre-soaks, scrubs and squeegees hard floors, eliminating the need to sweep before scrubbing ). I will also admit I miss the ladies from my previous cleaning service and I would be delighted to have any of these options available again in the near future (wink, wink)!

16. The Book,   Creating Really Awesome Free Things: 100 Seriously Fun, Super Easy Projects for Kids

So I may be slightly biased on this one, but my seester is a master crafter & author of this fun craft activity book for kids. This would be a great pressie for kiddos, moms, teachers, your babysitter, soon-to-be-momm or does doting auntie of super fun nieces and nephews ring a bell =) =) Click the link above to place your pre-order now =) =)

Happy Gift Giving!!

20+ DIY Dog Costumes!

Happy Monday!!

I looove October!! Fall is in air, I grow another year wiser and Halloween is just around the corner=) =) I must admit that I don’t normally dress my pup up for Halloween, but I have been obsessed with this one costume in particular (#7) ever since I laid eyes on it. Not only is this  costume super flipping cute, but the model and his video make me smile EVERY TIME!!

But first, keep in mind what Rollie looks like

and which costume you think might suit him best 😉

 

# 1 Breast Cancer Awareness Month >> not only is this ridiculously cute, but also great way to help raise awareness for Breast Cancer!! Feeling generous, donate here =)

#2 Skeleton (with non-toxic, pet-safe paint) by Bryn Anderson>> great way to make a comfy non-restricting costume for you pet!!

#3 Tiger

#4 Baby Deer via flickr

#5 Zombie (soo this is probably not so much a diy project unless you have some major grooming and artist skillios, but I had to share the pic…pretty AWESOME!!)

#6 Rock Lobster

#7 The Teddy Bear by Cindy Roth

#8 Gobble Til You Wobble

#9 Doggie Dino Tank by Marth Stewart.

 

#10 Pirate by Luigi & Me

#11 The Incredible Hulk

#12 The Movie Up (this DIY costume wins extra brownie points because I absolutely looove this movie too!!)

#13 Frida Kahlo by Jaderbomb

#14 Astronaut by Angelica SantaMaria

#15 So Fresh and So Clean Clean Lufa

#16 Blues Brothers

#17 Guilty  (so I know this wasn’t meant to be a costume, but I love when owners post pics of their guilty pets. I am thinking I could do this to Rollie and on his dog tag just put “Guilty” ?!? Either way, these make me laugh

#18 Caught Red Handed

#19 Lucky (somehow I suppose Lucky would have to be attached to your pup yet out of reach to make a good costume)

#20 A Hungry Hobo

#21 The classic Hotdog for any of  you can knit by KJ HAY

#22 Antoine Dogson (surely you remember this overnight internet sensation>>> if not, video below for you viewing pleasure!)

#23 Ewok

Have you made any DIY outfits for you dog?  If so leave post a pic and please share =) =)

Happy Fall Y’all,

Kelley B.

 

15 Halloween Kid Crafts

Happy Sunday,

This blog post was inspired by my inner-child =). I use to get a quick fix of crafting on a regular basis with my 2nd cousin Danielle, but since moving I thought I would send some ideas out her way & your way!! Here are some fairly quick and easy Halloween kid crafts. #2 is one of my favorites, I use to wear this on a regular basis when I was in grade school =) =)

#1 Spirit Jugs by Eighteen25

#2 Candy Wrapper Hair Bow by DoodleCraft

#3 Candy Wrapper Jewelry

#4 Hanging Toilet Paper Roll Bats by All Free Kids Craft

#5 Q-Tip Skeleton by sheknows

#6 Paper Cup Spiders by Craftown.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#7 Halloween Spook Banner by Organize & Decorate Everything

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#8 Haunting Halloween Luminaries by All Free Kids Crafts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9 Coffee Filter Bat by Fun-A-Day

# 10 Friendly Pumpkin Designs (construction paper, glue, rhinestones, washi tape, fabric, felt, sharpie, glitter, stickers, googly eyes, ribbon ) I feel a pumpkin decorating contest brewing =)

(pic from Berkshire)

(pic from Jen Betterly)

#11 Eyeball Bouquet by Crafts  n Coffee

#12 Sweet Treat = Fall Pretzel Bites by Dishin & Dhishes

#13 Dia De Los Muertos Halloween Shirt by Martha Stewart

#14 Paper Plate Door Wreath by I heart arts n crafts

# 15  3-D Spider Web by Kiwi Crate

Happy Crafting!!

Kelley B.

ps. feel free to post a pic of your creepy creations =)

10 Must-Try Beauty / Body Products!

Hey Blog World!

Today I wanted to share with you a list of my  top 10 favorite beauty/body products that I use on a regular basis =) In no particular order… LET’S DO THIS!

1. My favorite pinky/nude nail color that is perfect for keeping it profesh at work or any occasion… Bubble Bath by OPI

2. The best foundation I have used to date, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation

Why you may ask? Since moving to Colorado Springs, my skin is not only dry, but much more closer to the sun at 6,000 feet of altitude. This foundation has SPF 50+ (suhweeet), super moisturizing, looks good the entire work day (ain’t nobody got time to reapply am I right), and only takes one pump (at least that is what I prefer because a little goes a long way). The website notes 1 PUMP = moderate coverage, 2 pumps = full coverage & 3 pumps = ultimate coverage… (I also use their Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer & bronzer when I’m feeling fancy, but not everyday =)

3. I loved this lotion before moving to Colorado, but  even more so now that my skin is exposed to a much dryer climate!! The best lotion, Gold BOND Ultimate Healing (yep, you read that right, GOLD BOND BABY) =)

4. Now I have said this before and I will say it again, the best (and one of the cheapest mascaras I have ever used) is l’oreal telescopic (I have a whole other blog post dedicated to the proper way to apply for best results 😉 Shout out to my freshman roommate in college, Caiter, for always volunteering to beautify me before heading out and being the first to give this a go!!

5. My favorite hair straightener, The Corioliss! This hot item is super quick for a straight do and it also makes a quick &  pretty curl because of  it’s rounded-edge barrel. Shelly, my roommate from back in the college days, introduced me to  the wonders of how a hair straightener can produce some major long lasting curls ( THANKS GIRL!!)… I’m talking all day>> the pic of me below is a recent example of my curls still in action by 5:30pm!! Oh, did I mention I still have the same one from my sophomore days of college =)

6. My favorite face wash, Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub! I have used all sorts of fancy stuff from pro active, to mary kay, ect., but at the end of the day I always come back to what is simple and does the trick for me.

Want to know a little secret?!? If you need something stronger like proactive but can’t afford it, try this little combo >>> A face wash that contains salicylic acid (keralytic effect) + a product that contains 2% benzol peroxide. Mix together in equal portions and Voila, you have an inexpensive, comparable face wash to that of Proactive

7. Now this item I feel like never gets enough attention, but I personally love a good smile (which pretty much means good teeth) and ya gotta keep your pearly whites in check with a solid tooth brush! I have been cavity free my ENTIRE LIFE and I have been using a Phillips Sonicare tooth brush since my teens, I’m thinking highschool.

8.  I hate to admit this one, but I do think it does make a difference on what type of hair conditioner you use (potentially shampoo too, but I have only started paying premium for my conditioner). I recently pinvestigated this situation in May 2015 when I still had really long hair that was constantly getting knotted at the ends.  I finally had a “come to jesus moment” with my hair stylist at the time & she told me to quit being cheap and buy the good stuff…Well, she was right. I immediately noticed a difference with the first wash, but my nappy ends got better and better with each use. The fix, Keratin Complex Conditioner.. (annoying, I know…and now that I can’t just throw my hair up in a bun anymore since I chopped it off, I just have to suck it up)

9. As a nurse, good hand hygiene is a must,  but it really should be a priority for everybody. I wash my hands multiple times a day and would like to attribute the fact that I have NEVER had to take a sick day in my entire professional career due to my good hand hygiene skillios. With that being said, my favorite hand soap is Mrs. Meyer’s in Basil scent. I dig this soap because it contains aloe vera gel, olive oil and some smelly good essential oils that get the job done, moisturize and is quite refreshing!

10. Last but not least (however most recently discovered), Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in with spf 15 (I’m currently loving this in Fig). I like how this lip balm has SPF 15 ( are you starting to notice how I am really into preventing sun damage skin =), is moisturizing, and adds a fun but subtle color to the lip

Now it”s your turn!! Please share/ leave a comment of what beauty/product you could not live without in 2015!! I’m always about trying out new things!!!

Happy Sunday,

Kelley B =)

10 Fun Facts about Colorado Springs (and the move cont…)

Happy Saturday!

We have officially been living in Colorado Springs for 3 weeks now and here are some updates from my previous post a couple of weeks ago, “The Move… Hello Colorado“. The casa is about 97% unpacked and I have learned quite a bit about my new home thanks to a neighbor who was kind enough to share some fun & need-to-know facts about living in the Springs… especially  if you are moving here from the south.

But first, remember how I told you the hubs and I literally purchased the cheapest  (reclining) couch in the furniture store… Well the couch actually looks pretty darn good, but the question of the day is how long until it falls apart?!? Our game plan is to use it for a year and then hopefully sell it after we buy a casa or move to a new local. I’ll let you know how our plan pans out in a year!!

Without further ado, our NEW COUCH!!

Moving on to some fun fact/ need-to-know tips in Colorado Springs

1. You must make some adjustment to your recipes when baking at high altitudes. Colorado State University has some helpful tips for High Altitude Food Preparation, whether you be at 2,000 ft or 10,000 ft of altitude =)
2. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), also a nuclear bunker inside of Cheyenne Mountain, has an annual tradition of tracking Santa’s route every Christmas. This tradition began when the Sears in Colorado Springs accidentally published  NORAD’s number as a hotline to Santa… the officer on duty at the time decided to play along (allegedly).
3. The local zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, is the only mountain side zoo located in America at an elevation of 6,800 ft. Our bus driver said that Spencer Penrose took up a love of exotic animals after being gifted a bear in 1916.  Apparently he later decided that he must build a zoo after one of his hotel guest got bit by a monkey and slapped him with a $10,000 lawsuit. Either way, our bus driver was quite entertaining =)

Make sure to buy the tickets to ride the lift in the zoo for some great views!!

4. If you do not own a 4-wheel drive vehicle (sadly we don’t), be prepared to buy (or rent a car ) with some Studded Snow Tires because you will most definitely slip-n-slide while driving in the ice & snow.  I hear at a minimum, you need regular  snow tires. Oh and don’t forget to leave one of these bad boys in your car (ice scraper)

5. Speaking of slipping and sliding, every summer (last weekend actually) Colorado Springs host an annual “Slide the City”. This massive slip-n-slide is 1,000 ft long, 24 ft wide, uses 8-10,000 gallons of water and apparently is one of the country’s best slip-n-slide due to the 7% hill grade (average 4-5%).

picture from Slide the City

 6. So far in the past 3 weeks, there has been a short bout of rain, thunderstorm  and/or lightning just about everyday. I did not realize this until now, but Colorado has a “Lightning Season”. The Rocky Mountains are notorious for afternoon thunderstorms during the summer months. In fact, Colorado had the third-most lightning-strike fatalities of any state, with 17 from 2005-2014. Another 15 were injured, according to the National Weather Service. However,  Florida is by far the most dangerous state for lightning, averaging more than 10 deaths per year. Regardless, these pretty but dangerous storms are fun to watch from the safety of you balcony =)

(pic from KRDO NewsChannel 13)

7. “Seven Falls” is really a series of 7 waterfalls that make up one massive looking waterfall (and yes, I was expecting to see seven individual waterfalls as this trip was a last-minute adventure that I did not previously research  =) Regardless, the waterfall is pretty impressive and there are many other fun walking, hiking and zip lining trails in the park.

8. Colorado Springs is home to The Broadmoor, a 2015 “Best Hotel” in the USA per U.S News Travel. The nice thing for us is that the hotel is open to the public (they actually own the Seven Falls too). The hubs and I grabbed some wine and cheese  after our hike up the Seven Falls and plan to go back soon to hit up their pool situation =) =) If you want to come visit us & plan to stay in style (aka, your not feeling our air mattress situation in the office), we will not be offended if you choose to fance it up at The Broadmoor) 😉

9. Here is a whole list of FREE THINGS TO DO IN COLORADO SPRINGS from the Colorado Spring visitor website with some printable coupons!! You can also visit coloradosprings.com/events to see what type of events are going on in the city on any given day

(pic by Jake Stewart)

10. Colorado Springs has an annual Labor Day Lift Off Hot Air Balloon Festival which I am super pumped about attending this year. Apparently the festivities begin bright and early Saturday, September 5th at 6:30am with the first wave of balloon inflations at 7am.  After all the balloons are launched, both Saturday and Sunday there are  Wings of Blue U.S air Force Skydiving Team demonstration, Ultimate Frisbee Exhibition, Paddle Boarding sesh on Prospect Lake and you can even purchase a ticket to take a ride in a hot air balloon =) Checkout the Top 10 Hot Air Balloon Rides Worldwide

11. This one is not a fun fact… In fact this tid bit is a very annoying but oh so true fact.  If you plan to drive around Colorado Springs, make sure you pay attention to the speed limit because it can change multiple times within a small stretch on the same stinking road. Seriously, I got MY VERY FIRST SPEEDING TICKET EVER  the first five days of being here and the speed limit changed from 40mph, to 30mph, to 35mph within a 2-3 mile stretch (I’m told it does not help if you still have out-of-state plates on your car either).  There is no southern hospitality when it comes to the Springs police force…. I just so happen to get the self-proclaimed “stickler of Colorado Springs”>>> not cool =/

Anywho,  I would love your comments on my couch situation… I probably should have taken a poll prior to potentially throwing away money, but I guess that is what pinvestigating is all about =)

1) can you guess how much we paid?

2) Does it look as cheap as the number you just came up with in your head (hehe) You can’t offend me, I’m already in love  with the poop brown reclining marshmallow that I get to relax on every night and not worry about spilling my red wine on =) =) 

3) If you too thought it was a good idea to purchase a super cheap couch in your lifetime, how long did it hold up for you? 

4) If you were able to sell that super cheap couch before it fell apart, about how long can my love affair last until things get ugly and it starts cramping my style?

I hope everybody has a Happy Saturday!!

K.B