Stella & Dot - And, a Giveaway!

Have ya'll heard of Stella & Dot? If you haven't, you really should get out more ;0)

Stella & Dot is a fabulous company that has so many fun accessories for the fashionable gal! My dear friend, Frances Wolf, is an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot. She has been so gracious and decided to give away a beautiful bracelet (see above photo) to one of my readers! Isn't that just awesome!?

Isn't Frances Wolf just gorgeous!? 

What I love about Stella & Dot's pieces is that they are so versatile. Each piece can be worn with so many things and they really change a plain outfit into a "wow" outfit! Even when dressed super casual, these pieces work extremely well!

Frances wearing Stella & Dot on any ol' regular day!

Stella & Dot also has pretty scarves! Say wha?! And, those earrings...yup, I ordered them already.

In the month of April, Frances will have a special boutique launching to support Autism Awareness!! Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale of the pieces in the Autism Boutique will benefit the HollyRod Foundation. For more information on how HollyRod helps, please click here.

To browse the pieces that are available from Stella & Dot, which includes the Autism Boutique, click here. Frances will also be donating her commission from the Autism Awareness pieces sold from this show!! Now, that's all sorts of awesome if you ask me. You see, I only roll with awesome peeps. 

PLUS, if you purchase THROUGH the Mystery Hostess party, you will be entered to win all of the hostess rewards earned from everyone who places an order!! Frances will be drawing  THAT winner at the end of the month. You can find the information for the Mystery Hostess Party here.

This collection's orders will ship immediately (no need to wait for the party to close). And, just so you know, I received my bracelet in a few days. That's pretty quick. 

Let me tell you about this Spirit Bracelet...it's really cute, and like so many of Stella & Dot's pieces, very versatile. When I think of what I would pair this bracelet up with, the first type of outfit I think of is a white fitted tee, denim and perhaps a bright scarf. Maybe a khaki dress, gold gladiators and gold hoops? Maybe all black? Whatever you wear, this bracelet would be a great addition! Heck, right now I'm wearing black yoga capris, a turquoise fitted tee and this bracelet doesn't look out of place! I love it!

So, what are you waiting for?! ENTER BELOW!


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Sort of Healthy Enchiladas

Before you read this post, I have to give you this disclaimer - I am not a photographer. My house was not furnished by an interior designer. I live with two creatures called sons, who wipe their dirty hands on everything, leave legos strewn about and yell a lot. So, these are by no means good photos and my house looks like a mess. This particular night, I needed an easy meal, with stuff I could get at Trader Joe's (my one stop for the day) and cheated by buying ready-cooked chicken (damn you, Trader Joe's for not having rotisserie chickens!). With that said, please enjoy the recipe! (Oh, and I forgot to take a photo of the finished dish, but ya'll know what enchiladas look like, right?)

I came across this recipe on Pinterest (I know, surprise, right?!). What I liked about this recipe is that it had some added veggies and looked like a good freezable meal. Knowing my hubby's taste buds, I added a few changes. 

My messy kitchen

Black Bean and Spinach Enchiladas 
Adapted from Martha Stewart

Enchilada Sauce (I cheated and used a bottle from Trader Joe's)
1/2 a small can of salsa verde
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups corn (I used canned)
Oven roasted Chicken Breasts, chopped (about a pound)
6 oz. fresh baby spinach
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
3 tbs. minced garlic
2 tsp. cumin
3 cups shredded 3 cheese blend (or pepper jack, etc.)
8 whole wheat or flour tortillas
***The original recipe called for making your own enchilada sauce, which I intended to do but ran out of time. Vegetable Broth was for the enchilada sauce which I didn't make.

Directions
Saute the spinach and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until slightly wilted. 

In a large bowl, combine chopped chicken, beans, 2 cups cheese, spinach, corn, green onions, 2 tsp. cumin, and cilantro.

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish, and pour a small amount of the sauce to coat the bottom. Generously fill tortillas with mixture, roll up tightly with ends tucked in, and place seam side down in dish.

Pour remaining sauce over the enchiladas, coating evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese on top.
Bake about 20 minutes, and garnish with cilantro and/or green onions (optional).

Living in the Present

Me, Brady (3 mos) and Dave

I came across this video called "The Gift of an Ordinary Day" by Katrina Kenison. Her message really struck me. Her writing just resonated with me and made me take a look at the way I live.

Dave, Brady (20 mos) and I

It is so hard to not just live each day like a task. I wake up and just stumble through the routine of daily living. I find that more and more, by mid-day, I'm just wishing that it was time to go to bed. Life, as I am living it right now, just seems so exhausting. I get so caught up with packing snacks, carting the boys to their activities, grocery shopping and just the inevitable mile long list of errands that I have to mark off on my neatly scribed check lists. My life reel plays like a rerun episode. My life feels like it is in syndication.

Grandpa, Brady (2) and Dave at Disneyland 2010

But, what isn't so obvious, what isn't right in my face, is that I am letting the best memories of my life flash by me. I'm not savoring the mental snap shots I see when I close my eyes. I'm not allowing myself to enjoy my boys as much as I should. I'm not jumping for joy with each accomplishment that Brady and Wes make. I should be, but I'm not.

Me 36 weeks pregnant with Wes 

And, especially because Brady is now 5 (how did THAT happen?!), it is really hitting me - my life is flying by.

Newborn Weston (aka the flying baby who was born with one push)

Watching this video has given me a strong instant message. Treasure every day. Remember that everything is a phase, whether its the good times or the bad. Don't forget to laugh at the horrible experiences because they make for wonderfully funny stories when the kids bring home their first dates (you know - the blow outs, the puking in the bread aisle at Walmart, telling me "my pee-pee don't work" and saying, "I'm a sh*t bird, momma"). Cherish the great and funny moments. The first steps, the first I love you's and first days...all the "firsts" only happen once. It is SO TRUE what they say, it goes by like the blink of an eye.

Brady (2.5) and Weston (3 mos)

Oh, there are so many memories I wish I could relive just to enjoy it a little bit more! Like the kick of a baby inside my womb. The coo of a newborn. For the midnight nursing session that was so intimately beautiful. The beautiful eyes of my child that stared at me before drifting off to sleep. The look over the shoulder my brave son gave me on his first day of school. All of these were just fleeting moments I didn't allow myself to appreciate in the moment.

Weston (6 mos) and Brady (3)

So, now I am trying my hardest to remember to embrace and enjoy these moments as they happen. I'm trying so hard to wake up and be thankful for my ordinary days, the ones that I too often take for granted. I'm striving to start each day with a cheerful smile, a slower pace and a hug. I'm tasking myself with ending each day with a "I'm so proud of you bud" and about 5 minutes just holding each of my boys, talking about what they want to do the next day.

Biking around Coronado

And, while I know how important it is to cherish this time with your kids, I am equally committed to making this same effort with my hubby. I try to start and end each day with a kiss and a squeeze of the hand. I make an effort to talk about and reflect on what I enjoyed about the day and laugh about all the crappy things that went amiss in my daily adventures. I try to point out to him the small things that I used to miss, quietly guiding him by the small of his back to see some of the boys' hi-jinx going on in the other room. Because, not only are our boys turning into young men at a lightening speed, but I don't want to miss out on how we are growing, too!

The Albrights and Kate the Horse (2012)

Hopefully the video will resonate with you the same way it did with me. It's a change of perspective that I am really happy about!

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Press N' Seal Fun!

I think the funnest activities for my boys are the most simple to do. For example, we have a ton of fun with Glad Press N' Seal. Yes, the same Press N' Seal I use for my left overs!

Both boys working side by side

For this particular day's activity, I used some pretty simple supplies:

• Glad Press N' Seal
• Blue Painter's Tape
• Feathers
• Foam Sticks (cut up into pieces)
• Pom Poms
• Ripped or cut paper pieces

I simply taped the Press N' Seal, with the sticky side up, to my sliding glass doors with trusty old blue painters tape. I armed both boys with bowls of feathers, foam pieces, odd shapes of scrap paper (in this case, junk mail) and pom poms. That's it. I allowed both boys to delve in and take it any direction they wanted to. When I say that, I mean I plopped on the floor in between them with my cup of tea and just made sure no one ate the supplies or hit each other.

This activity is really about letting them be independent and use their creativity. The bonus is, it required very little on my part so I used the time to decompress while enjoying my time with them. It's pretty low-stress and there are no time limits or constraints! 

Since both of my boys are so different from each other, I find it interesting to observe how each one tackles this task.

Wes and his creation

Wes, my 2 1/2 year old just goes for the gold. He usually starts by grabbing a handful of stuff, smashes it to the Press N' Seal and laughs. He tends to remove everything and do it all over again. Each time he takes the pieces off, he becomes a little more calculated on what he puts on and where he puts it. It's comical to observe his creative process blossom!

Brady and his "only foam squares" masterpiece

Brady, on the other hand, is a little more reserved than Wes. Brady usually starts out this activity by cautiously touching the Press N' Seal, assessing the supplies he has available, then sorts the items. Yes, my little anal retentive five year old. He gets it from his momma (which makes me laugh because he is a lot like me - more than I want to admit). Brady usually requires more verbal prompting and encouragement with this type of activity. BECAUSE it is such an abstract, open ended activity, Brady usually is a little more hesitant to participate. But, it's okay, because with a little encouragement, he normally will try! I think the thing Brady enjoys the most is the feeling and sound that Press N' Seal makes when his hand sticks to it. Hey, I'll take it.

Like I said, some of the most enjoyable activities aren't busy, extravagant or expensive. I love activities that allow me to just sit back, observe and enjoy my children and their individuality. It's in these moments that I can see how precious they are in their own ways.

Hope you enjoy this super simple idea!

Gone Girl

One thing I do to cleanse my "mental palate" is to read. I really like to end my day by reading a good book. I tend to hop from genre to genre but when I find a good read, that usually sets the tone for the next couple of books. Lately, I have purchased Kindle versions to allow me to read on my iPhone while on the go. Most of the time if I have time to spare (normally waiting on SOMETHING), then I can easily pass the time by reading!

I just finished the Kindle Edition of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I tend to read a lot of chick lit type of books, so this was a tad of a departure for me, genre wise.

This is Amazon.com's description of the story:

Marriage can be a real killer. 

   One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.    On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
   With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

I don't want to ruin the book for you, but if you enjoy twisted story lines that end completely different than you expected, you will enjoy this book. I really enjoyed how she told the story from the two main characters' perspectives - you read Nick Dunne's account of living through the time while his wife is missing and the plot grows thicker as you read his wife's (Amy Dunne) journal entries. It culminates with an ending that has you wondering, "are there REALLY people like this in the world?". It's like Dateline meets Law and Order: Criminal Intent. 

What I love is that the story ends leaving you absolutely wanting more. It is a perfect segue to a second book, making it a series. 

That wasn't the BEST of reviews (actually it is fairly horrible), but I absolutely do not want to ruin your experience of reading this thrilling book. I loved it! I encourage you to give it a go!

What's your favorite thriller?

My Morning Can't Start Without This

I've never been much of a fancy coffee drink type of person. I have always loved my plain old school coffee, with a big splash of half and half. Sure, I enjoy a Cinnamon Dolce Latte from time to time, but my main go-to is a simple cup of joe!

This last Christmas season, I had to make a gazillion teacher-type gifts for everyone that works with Brady. I put together a little gift basket with tons of things, including a Chai Tea Mix. I've always thought that I didn't like Chai Tea. Don't ask me why, but I had convinced myself at some point that it wasn't the drink for me.

When I made the gift baskets I had made a few more than I needed and lovingly doled them out to my friends. One of these said friends told me that it was really yummy and asked if I drink it often. Embarrassed, I admitted I never tasted it. It was this embarrassment that got me to make another Costco sized batch and try it. It was actually pretty yummy. It wasn't something I'd drink every day, but it was pretty good.

One morning, it struck me - why not put the Chai Mix in my coffee? Yes, brilliant! Put it in the coffee. Two separate drinks to drink? Ain't got time for that. Put them together! I know I haven't invented something new, but it was quite a revelation at 530 a.m.

So, I brew my normal cup of coffee and put three scoops of Chai Mix and a splash of half and half. And, I HAVE to admit...I honestly like it more than a Chai Latte from Starbucks. Really. I even have my hubby using it.

I did make one change from the original recipe - I accidentally bought two French Vanilla creamers, but it tasted so good that I stuck with it.

Two tips:

1. I normally combine the sugar, tea, dry milk and spices together in my food processor to blend. I have found that it creates a smooth and finer blend this way. 
2. I attempted to throw all the ingredients together in my trusty Vitamix. Big mistake. It heated and clumped it together, resulting in about an inch of Chai solidified at the bottom. Major fail.

Without further adieu, here is the recipe for Chai Tea Mix:

Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Mix - adapted from momadvice.com

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 cups French vanilla powdered non-dairy creamer
2 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups unsweetened instant tea
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
¼ tsp white pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until it is a fine powder (If you have a small food processor, you can combine just the instant tea and spices in the food processor & then combine everything together in a bowl). Add two-three tablespoons of mix to 8 ounces of hot water or milk (or COFFEE).

http://momadvice.com/blog/2010/12/delicious-drink-mixes-creamy-hot-cocoa-or-vanilla-chai-tea-mix#aV5cX8zigmLW8JAV.99