Combine Halloween + Harvest For Hauntingly Easy Holiday Decor

Wow Mom! Wednesdays:

What’s the best part of Halloween? The photos!

Here’s one of my kiddos – SpiderMan and our Little Witchy Poo! (so funny I couldn’t get them together).

Also, wanted to share this costume…personally one of my favorites – Cinderella. One of my friend’s daughters wore this dress and she really felt like a princess, especially when the sun went down and her dress lit up. Best of all, since the dress had motion-detectors, when she did a “princess spin” the dress lit up with her! It was magical – and even though she didn’t feel up to par for a long night of trick-or-treating, she definitely enjoyed her time in the “dresslight!” And for mom, the lights made it so easy to keep an eye on your child wherever she walked down the street! Perfect for your “princess” all year long. (I’d snatch this one up if you can find it like at Target or Amazon.com.)

Oh the decorations! We went minimal this year on our decorations since I just didn’t have the time to get them all up and then as soon as I did, I’d have to take them down! So we did a fall harvest theme that could extend into Thanksgiving time so mama’s work wasn’t put to waste. Thankfully, with an online trip to Kmart, I was able to get a few fun fall things to make me look like the next queen of decorating (and all for $100!)

$12.49 for this cute pumpkin

$25 for this 3-tier candle display

$20 for this wreath

$12.49 for this floral bundle

$20 floral arrangement

$ 9 for this cute Tablerunner

Happy Decorating! (And stay tuned for more tips, ideas and more!)

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

7 Facebook Auction Sites You Should Like: Your Guide to Facebook Auctions

Tech Tuesdays:

Facebook has brought us so many things:  the ability to communicate with long-lost friends, quietly stalk old boyfriends and brag about the cool places you are going to. Actually, I love Facebook and it’s amazing what one website has allowed us to do (or in my case, not do.) And now it’s brought us the easiest shopping experiences possible – via Facebook auction.

If you haven’t had the chance to participate in an online auction to snag the trendies jewelry pieces or cutest kids clothes, then you shouldn’t start. Honestly, like Pinterest, it makes spending time you don’t have feel like you might miss an opportunity to learn the secret to eternity if you don’t scroll down the page for a few pages and type those four letters : S-O-L-D.

I know I came by my first Facebook auction honestly…I heard about it from a friend who had “liked” the page and decided, that I would snoop and see what she liked. Shouldn’t have done that. I found myself at Jewelry Nut Auctions, had bid on the must-have necklace of 2012 and then within a few hours had received an invoice, paid via PayPal and then around a week later had a cute little delivery. It was so easy it hurt and that started my newest addiction.

After a “why didn’t I think about that?” moment, especially since so many of them are DFW-based… I found out I was a little late to the game.  Jewelry Nut claims they were the first Facebook online auction site dating to 2011, but the concept has spread like wildfire and there are many others including adorable kids clothes that work just the same way. 

The 2012 necklace of the year, inspired by J. Crew. Grabbed mine on Jewelry Nut  for around $26. (Grabbed this shot from Cupcake Life.)

The concept is easy. Basically 2-3 times a week for one hour, the site loads up their goodies for the night, you bid on them and then if you make your bid before the quantity is out, it’s yours. The rest of the time the Facebook site is showing previews of the things you can bid on during auction nights. It really is genius and after looking at some of the “Like” counts on these, you can see that I’m not the only addict.

Just make sure you check out the basic rules first before your first bid, but here are the normal fundamentals before you jump in blindly.

•          Check to see if you need to register for bidding
•          No returns or exchanges
•          Invoices should be paid immediately (within 48 hours)
•          Shipping is normally included

Still think you need to try a taste? Here’s just a few of the ones I’m following:

Jewelry Nut Auction: (Jewelry)

Auctions are twice a week on Monday and Wednesday, 8 – 9 PM CST.
Also, they recently began Style Nut Auctions (Women’s Clothing and Accessories), which are on Wednesdays at 8 PM. (Love these gals since they are local yokals from Fort Worth!)

Smocked by StellyBelly: (Children’s Clothing)

Auctions are twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 PM CST.

Accessories Auction: (Jewelry/Accessories)

Auctions are twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 PM CST. (More Dallas ladies with their business hats on.)

Accessory Concierge: (Jewelry/Accessories)

Auctions are twice a week on Mondays at 11 AM and Wednesdays at 8 PM CST. (See the trend here? Dallas likes its accessories!)

Southern Tots: (Children’s Clothing)

Not necessarily an auction, but sales happen Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays.

Zdori Auctions: (Jewelry)

Auctions happen Tuesday – Thursdays from 11 AM – 1 PM. This site says they even offer items for free if you claim them in time or share enough of their site with your friends on Facebook. (Hello again from big D!)

Smocked Auctions: (Children’s Clothing)

Auctions are twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 PM CST. (Another lovely Dallas-based company.)

Which ones are you following? Am I missing one? This addict needs another fix!

Birthday Fun in Dallas with Spa at the Village, DISH Drag Brunch, Hotel Zaza Sunday School & Napa Valley

Me Mondays:

"Me Mondays" are supposed to be a one-day dedicated to focusing on making things better for ALL moms. However, today the title is most apropos because today IS my birthday, so I'm sharing how this mama spent the weekend celebrating her 22st birthday (hahaha, give or take 10 years or so.) I have to admit it was the best one yet! It was all about conquering some bucket list items!

Starting off the fun festivities, after a hard-hitting session of Jay's Bootcamp and one of my favorites Friday's spin class with Melissa, I spent a glorious afternoon at The Spa at the Village in Colleyville. Thank goodness for a perfectly timed Groupon  because for less than $100, I was able to get the Pumpkin & Spice Fall Spa Package (which is valued at $430!) The whole experience was heavenly -- with a delicious massage, a pumpkin facial and even a an inch loss body wrap (always a nice way to start off a birthday is with a few inches off your body!) I opted to get a few add-ons as well which were well worth it since my dark circles have seemed to disappear - or at least minimize for the time-being! The staff was amazing and I know I'll be back since they offer specials to their members and I can't remember the last time I felt that relaxed. 

After Friday afternoon, I was more than happy to call it done with my festivities, but that was just the beginning. My amazing husband had me open a FedEx box addressed to him, but when I opened it, I found a beautiful handbag. I have to admit, I've been waiting for a long time to get this purse, so I couldn't have been more surprised. It is beautiful! While this one wasn't a bucket list item, it was on top of my "All I Want For Christmas..." list. Santa just showed up a little early this year!

Again, just the beginning of the birthday fun, I spent a few hours with some friends on Saturday enjoying a few of Fort Worth's most beautiful homes and best chefs with The Kitchen Tour, a fundraising event for A Wish with Wings. It may have been chilly, but some of the tasty soups we enjoyed made it worth it (that and the bloody mary that kept me warm on the inside!) I love looking a beautiful homes and certainly enjoying award-winning food from local restaurants, so this was ideal for a pre-birthday event!

Sunday was the icing on the cake. My mom and two of girlfriends got gussied up and attended Brunch at DISH. Referred from Dallas' Queen of the Scene, Cynthia Smoot, Once a month the Oak Lawn rest throws a party with brunch, bottomless mimosas and drag queens. It's hard to imagine a drag show at 10:30 AM in the morning, but it and the three-course brunch was a perfect way to spend the morning. Another bucket list item complete. However, bottomless mimosas ensured the party wasn't over yet. 



Of course, what would Sunday be without Sunday School? But this is not the Sunday School you are used to. Hotel Zaza puts on a heck of a party and this time Halloween was the occasion. While I wish I could tell you how great the food and drink was, especially since the pancakes are supposed to be phenomenal, but it was more like a night club than a breakfast spot. Sunday School Brunch includes food and fun like no other...just be ready to need a little recoop time after all the fun is over! This event is a MUST for anyone in Dallas. (Just be happy I don't have photos to share with you!)

While I could definitely say that I had the best Birthday ever, I still have one more bucket list I get to complete for this birthday...a trip to Napa Valley! I can't wait to share this bucket list item with you upon my return! I can hardly wait, but after this weekend's fun, I'm glad that I have some days to recharge and rehydrate!

So if today is your birthday, I hope it is as wonderful as mine has been --- thanks to some amazing friends and family members. And if you have a birthday coming up soon, I have one piece of advise: "Celebrate your day like it's the last one you got!" 

Giving it to You Down and Dirty: The Gross-O-Pedia

Sharing Sundays: 

When I was growing up, I looked forward to watching Saturday cartoons including a show called Beakman's World. It was full of tons of information about real stuff and demonstrated in a way that kids could easily understand. Actually the best way to describe it was a "kid-version of Dr. Oz." I distinctly remember how one episode showed you how scabs formed by using red and white balloons to symbolize red and white blood cells. But it didn't stop there - he talked about all the things that make you go "huh?"

Don't have a clue what I'm talking about or remember Beakman fondly? Check out YouTube or you can order him on Netflix.)

Anyhow, my point of this was he did some amazing explaining about things no one wants to talk about but does" like farts, scabs and other gross stuff. While as adults we do our best to be appropriate about the topics, but as kids they don't categorize it as gross, nasty or whatever. They just want to know "WHY." 

The Gruesome, Disgusting, and Absolutely Vile Gross-o-Pedia by Rachel Federman is the perfect treat for anyone with an interest in the bizarre or an offbeat sense of humor. There’s a chapter on every subject that you might want to know a little too much about, like bugs, the human body, science, festivals, and even an entire section devoted to farts. (yes, I've mentioned that word like three times already.) 

So with Halloween just around the corner and a four-year-old who asks "why" at least a million times a day, this book gives me a reference to explain things to him as well as some great factoids that Beakman would be proud of - 20 years later. 

The Gruesome, Disgusting, and Absolutely Vile Gross-O-Pedia: A Startling Collection of Repulsive Trivia You Won't Want to Know! 
Rachel Federman 
Skyhorse Publishing

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

"Eatin' Good in our Neighborhood" with Healthy Snack Food and TV Dinners (FOR KIDS!)

Food Fridays: 

While there are several boxes of take out around my house at any given time…I’m happy to report this time the boxes were full of healthy food that was made specifically when my little babe in mind. Thankfully, Bitsy’s Brainfood and Sprout both had mom on the brain because not only was the food good for you, but it was easy to prepare and taste good too. So rather than focus on some of the great places to eat in DFW this week, I’m focusing on the boxed food that made Taylor Rose a happy camper.

Bitsy’s Brainfood

If I ate the number of carbs my one-year-old consumed in any given day…we’ll it would be much worse than it is right now. My little carb queen loves her crackers, cookies and of course, goldfish. Now if I could just get her to eat broccoli, carrots and peas like that, she’d be the healthiest baby in town. Thankfully, someone else thought the same thing and created the magic which is Bitsy’s Brainfood. With letter-shaped snacks (think animal crackers), colorful packaging, cool stickers and characters to spark imagination, Bitsy’s Brainfood makes learning fun and teaches children to crave the right foods.

Bitsy's Brainfood features:

• Made with organic ingredients and all natural fruits and veggies
• Excellent source of iron, calcium, vitamins A, B 12, D 3 and Folic Acid
• Made with Omega 3 DHA
• No preservatives, trans fats, artificial colors or flavors
• Available in Zucchini Gingerbread Carrot, Sweet Potato Oatmeal Raisin, Orange Chocolate Beet and Lemon Broccoli

While I’ll admit the colors were a little different since they were made from natural ingredients and not artificial colors, the Zucchini Gingerbread Carrot crackers were delicious!

Bitsy’s Brainfood are available for under $3 online at amazon.com, freshdirect.comand bitsysbrainfood.com

The other God-sent, kid-focused healthy quick food we discovered was Sprout Toddler foods. In a nutshell, think TV dinners for kids…but wait, you thought they already had those? They do, but if you look past the fun packaging and take a second to look at the nutritional facts, the calories, fat and SODIUM shouldn’t be consumed by anyone, much less, your todds.

Sprout Toddler Mealsare healthy with all natural ingredients, made to help put parents at ease during mealtime knowing they are feeding their children something that is good for them. And even better, with options like Vegetable Risotto with Quinoa and Parmesan, your kids are learning to eat more than chicken nuggets and mac and cheese! Actually my little girl ate better meals than we did with her Sprout meals.

Overwhelmed by how good the food tasted and the variety available, I went to researching and found that Father and Food Network Star Chef Tyler Florence co-created Sprout baby food.  Even better he didn’t create it because a big company wanted to use his likeness, but after watching a friend force some horrible baby food down her poor kid’s mouth, he knew there had to be a better way. So he and the friend joined up and created Sprout.

It’s so nice that I actually have new options for healthy food my kids like and we can expand past Garden Burgers and carrots! 

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

To-Do This Weekend: Treat Your Senses

To-do Thursdays:

This weekend is all about preparation for fall…with Halloween next week, my 21^st birthday (tee-hee) and a little chill actually roiling into Dallas/Fort Worth, I need a little time to get things in line. 

So with the exception of all the fun things I need to catch up on like laundry, dishes and holiday planning (I did say that), I’m planning on keeping the calendar light -- well, kinda.

Here are a few events I’m planning on for this weekend:

• Aida (with the kids?)
• Rhea Lana Consignment Sale (for the kids)
• Wish with Wings' Kitchen Tour 
• Face Logic's Peel Event (just for mama!) (see below)

Face Logic Spa, one of my favorite local spas owned by local mom Faryn Clark, is holding their annual Image Peel Event with an opportunity to see the future of your skin, Oct. 26 - 28. While I'd like to think my skin isn't beginning to age, I can't ignore the things I can see and even worse, the things I can't see -- YET.

The experience includes a special introduction to the Woods Lamp, which utilizes an ultra violet light to reveal color changes and areas of hyperpigmentation (age spots/sun damage) below the skin's surface so they can prevent those imperfections before they are visible. 

A peek into the future is $25 and includes a Wood's Lamp session and an aesthetician's analysis of what it reveals. Consultation also includes a 20 minute Image Vitamin C or Orodemic Peel ($59 value) + a $25 gift card for any Image retail product -to use that same day, cocktails and a pass into the Peel Event reception. 

Annual Image Peel Event 

Facelogic Spa Highland Park

October 26th-28th

Reception - October 27th, 1 pm - 6 pm, featuring Jena Sorenson, LME 

Raffle, goody bags and more than $800 in giveaways

4518 Lovers Lane

214.696.3223

Making Sick Time a Little More 'Hoppy'

Wow Mom Wednesdays:

I received one of those dreaded calls today every parent hates to hear: "Your kid is sick. Come pick him up."

And when I finally cut through traffic and bolted to his school, I found my little boy pail, sad and pretty dang pathetic (which I witnessed the level of his patheticness each time he hurled into the garbage...which was a score as a mother within itself rather than to land all over me...but I digress.)

He didn't want food, toys or cartoons, so I knew it was the real deal. So had to do something to make him happy or at least break a smile as I nursed him back to health.

Thankfully, for Angry Birds bandages (which I picked up at Wal-mart this week on a whim) and a softy and fuzzy frog ice pack I was given from Mommy's Kisses, I was able to "doctor" him up while his tummy sorted itself out. While it is sad to watch your kiddo be sick (I have LOTS of experience with this), it's the little things like my mom used to do (serving me a grilled cheese with Ramen noodles and a Sprite in bed) that make it bearable - for both of you.  

Do you do something special for your kids while they are sick to make them feel a little better?

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

SugarSync Makes REAL Filesharing Sweet

Tech Tuesdays:

Between this blog, my posts on TodaysMama.com, DallasFoodNerd.com, Mom2MomDFW.com and the social media accounts I manage for my clients, I have A LOT of photos. Keeping up with them and the other documents I need to be able to access at a moment’s notice make it almost necessary to have a laptop with me at all times. Of course, that’s not possible when you have mom duties like school pickup, grocery shopping and cooking.

Thankfully, I’ve found something that makes all of this possible and more with SugarSync. I’ve tried several different online options and have paid quite handsomely for some of them that were pretty good, but honestly, not as amazing than SugarSync. In a nutshell, like many new online services, SugarSync backs up all your files – including documents, graphics, video and even your music into your own online cloud and accessible to all your devices without taking up any of your hard space.

Seem like all other programs out there or something youre already using? Then you should take a trial – this freemium file-syncing service gives you 5 GB of free space (which makes me laugh when I spent more than $100 for my first keydrive in the early 2000s).  However, you can increase your file size as much as you need.

Still need convincing? Then take a look at this graph that breaks down everything you need to know about SugarSync and its competitors like Dropbox, ICloud, Box and Carbonite.

It never ceases to amaze me how much I can do on my IPhone.

Thank you, SugarSync.  

4 Ways Mom Can Make Halloween Simple (and Fun) for Her

Me Mondays:

I LOVE HALLOWEEN. The decor, the food, the costumes and all the kids ringing my door bell with "Trick or Treat!" It's just such a sweet, fun and great little holiday!

My little Snow White's First Halloween, 2011.

But with a one-year old and a four-year old, juggling taking my babes trick-or-treating and then running home to meet those kids trick-or-treating SOLO is not an easy task. Not only does it take some careful preparation, but it's all about timing and for me - simplicity. With such a long day getting things ready and then to continue well after my kids go to bed (when your youngest goes to bed at 7:30 p.m.), the door bell is ringing until at least 9 p.m.

So this year I'm working hard to slimline things without feeling like I'm cutting myself short on something I normally enjoy with a few tips to ensure Halloween is fun for me (as well as the kids!)

1) Order dinner - in advance
I know there are a thousand pins you have collected over the last couple of weeks to create the perfect Halloween-themed dinner, but let's face it - you can't do it all. Really. So I just make it a fun night and order a few cheap pizzas, pick them up AHEAD of trick-or-treating and then we're done. You can eat a slice before you go out and then a few pieces after you get home without any issue. It's cheap, easy, and fun! Just make sure to put your order in early since Halloween is a big night for delivery, so just avoid the wait (and more traffic on the road) and pick it up yourself. Between the ready-made pizza places like *Cici's, Little Caesars or Pizza Patron at around $6, you can't go wrong.

Sign up now for CiCi’s Pizza Perks and a you'll be in the loop to receive a coupon for 3 medium To-Go pizzas for $10.  What a great way to treat your little goblins, ghouls, ghosts and princesses before they head out into the dark, candy-filled night!

2) Wear Comfortable Shoes
I've professed multiple times that I don't like shoes. We'll I do, but...they are a necessary for walking the neighborhood as we travel from house to house for trick-or-treating. I could probably just put on my houseslippers/flip-flops and walk out the door. However, since the probability of me bumping into neighbors I haven't seen in months. For this reason, I want to sport that mom's-still-got-it look rather than mom-lost-it that sometimes can be seen if you bump into me at the grocery store.

Thankfully, I just found a pair of shoes I'm currently in love with. No, they're not my normal Crocs, but a pair of Dr. Scholls. Now before you start to think I've borrowed a pair of my grandma's house shoes, you've got to take a look at these babies.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Scholl's Shoes/drschollsshoes.com

Aren't they cute? I thought so as well and this oxford-style shoe is totally on trend for 2012 (an added bonus for me!) This classic loafer called the Florenza is my go-to shoe for mom style, color and of course, my favorite - COMFORT! Imagine that all those inserts could be found in one shoe - memory fit foam, pressure relief and massaging gel insoles. Retailing at around $65, I feel like I'm standing out a litttle bit among the sea of Sperry's and Tom's most everyone is sporting and for me, I can still have the same feel of a flip-flop!
Available at more than 5,000 retail locations and online at Piperlime.com, Macys.com, Zappos.com and DrSchollsShoes.com.

3) Simplify the Bag Load
While I'm not a shoe diva, I am about my bags. I love big bags and can fill them at capacity if you let me (isn't that what moms are known for.) But on Halloween, with two trick-or-treat bags and all the other necessities - phone and keys, are about all I can handle and I still need both of my hands to lead the kids along the way. That's why we I found this scarf/clutch combo, I was ELATED.

Here's the Sholdit I have.
Photo courtesy of www.sholdit.com. 

The Sholdit was created by a mom with the need to have her stuff and her hands, is basically a scarf with inside pockets to contain your basics and if needed, can fold back up to a small clutch - all in one! Scarves are my go-to accessory for making my mom uniform (a t-shirt) look cute quickly, while giving me a little style, and the fact that I can store my phone and keys without stuffing my pockets like a plumber, makes me so uber happy. And in so many cute colors and lightweight materials, you can securely store your stuff without adding 10 lbs. to your shoulders or hips. Get yours now for $49-$79 at www.sholdit.com.

4) Give Out What You Want 
Another issue over the last few years that has really kept me worried is what food to give out. When I was growing up, if you scored a full-size candy bar from the guy up the street, you were set. But now, what you give out is less a reflection of what kids would enjoy as it is "Is this mom mindful of safety, health and fun?" And of course, costs for a bag of candy soaring more than $10 for a bag of 50 snack-size treats, trying to participate in Halloween has really turned into a chore.

This year I said no more and bought what I wanted my kids to eat and what I would be happy to serve from the House of Reo. For a reasonable cost of $6 a box with 35 bags of Utz Mickey Mouse Cheese Balls, Halloween Rice Crispy Treats and a small selection of chocolate. I stocked up on what I thought we would need for 2 hours and then if any was left over, I could use the pretzels for snacks and lunchboxes while mom and dad wouldn't have to sneak food out of the kids bags! Plus, Mickey Mouse still makes me cool AND they are gluten-free...SCORE!

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Show Your Kids that Storytelling is Fun and Important

Sharing Saturdays & Sundays:
While most parents intend to spend time teaching and enjoying quality time with their children learning through arts and crafts, unfortunately, it don't always happen. Too often life gets in front of us and too often we're too quick to hand them an Ipad (which is hard when you love yours), turn on the TV or tell them to go play. I know I am guilty...not because I don't love my kids, but that "spending time" seems like it has to be a big ordeal, project or outing and after all the "stuff" that has to be done, you just don't have anything left.

Author Emily K. Neuburger of Thanks to Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling makes sharing, learning moments easy for both parents and kids to enjoy with her award-wining book. This guide provides a plethora of easy ways to create a project or game with things you can find around your home in an easy-to-follow format. While many of the suggested ideas may seem as simple as building a list based on word association, it makes it possible for families to have a "moment" without putting much into the prep time and all your time into making a memory together.

Amazon.com describes the book as:

Children love to make up stories, and these 40 creative projects and activities encourage them to free their storytelling instincts. Younger children will love making story stones and a storytelling jar and then using them to create stories of their own, while older kids will enjoy word grab bags, story walks, and journaling exercises. For everyone ages 5 to 12, whatever their reading level, this book has everything needed to spark an infinite number of child-created stories.

While I have children ages 4 and 1, this book is something we can begin to use sparingly at this age and grow into as we head past our toddler years and even into young adults.

I loved the artwork and the format as it reads like a recipe book - which is may favorite guide to read.

Spend this weekend and even those 20 minutes breaks between one appointment to another with this great reference book for your family library.

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")m

Everything's Better with (Twisted) Butter

Food Fridays:

One of my favorite trends is gourmet butters. I just love the Cabernet Goat Cheese Butter you can add to your burger at Chop House Burgers in Arlington or the sweet honey butter you get delivered with your bread at Saltgrass Steak House. It’s that extra buttery touch that takes it to the next level. And like my kids say, "it makes it taste GOOOD!"

And while I’d love to cook it up Paula Deen style, I don’t have the time or the calorie count. Thankfully, I’ve got a shortcut now for making those fancy butters without the time with Twister Butter. Available in savory and sweet flavors, these cute little tubs are filled with natural ingredients and come in six delicious flavors: Blueberry, Honey & Lemon Zest; Cinnamon, Honey & Brown Sugar; Cilantro & Lime; Chives & Parsley; Portobello Mushroom with Boursin-Garlic & Fine Herb Cheese; Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion.  For now you can get them at DFW Albertsonsstores, so with Thanksgiving around the corner, I’d stock up on these now…especially before EveryDay with Rachael Ray Magazine’s November 2012 issue hits the stands featuring Twisted Butter as one of her top picks for best butters (which including some 60 sticks and tubs of butter).

Rachel Ray says this Twisted Butter is one of the best butters available!

Of course, I couldn’t just choose one flavor to try, so I decided to take one for the team and taste four of them (the mushroom and cilantro didn’t make it to the testing.) And to be fair, I enlisted a few panelists (my son, daughter, husband and bestie) to help me. To be fair, I decided the only way to really “try” them was to have something simple in which to taste them with (butter on a spoon just isn’t appetizing), so I purchased plain bagels as to not taint our taste buds.

What did the results say of our "official butter tasting?" While I thought the Blueberry, Honey & Lemon Zest would reign supreme, it was the Cinnamon, Honey & Brown Sugar and Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion that took top honors. The bacon one just screamed baked potato heaven and the blueberry seemed like a great topping on top of French toast. However, when we were done, I really wondered on the different ways I could use these butters to look like I had worked really hard at dinner and didn’t.

Thankfully, the good folks at Twisted Butter already went there for me! Their site was filled with recipes that made me look (almost) Paula Deen worthy. And of course with the holiday cooking season about to go into full gear, these little guys might be just the perfect pairing for a holiday gift to the neighbors with homemade bread. Just remember it’s always homemade if you wrapped it up at home. You don’t necessarily have to make it from scratch. 

It’s the thought that counted, right?

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

To-Do DFW: Bears, butterflies, boos and blooms, Oct. 19-21

To-Do Thursdays

Everything about this weekend is FALL. And in Texas, this season is only about two weeks long. So between the bears, butterflies, boos and blooms, you've got all kinds of options! However, it looks like most of them are on Oct. 20, so you're going to have to make some decisions.

Tip from me: Choose only 1-2 things to do and have a blast. Don't try to make it too all of the events and not have any fun at any of them!

Here's my roundup of a few events that will entertain your family this weekend in DFW:

Dust off your wings Oct. 20: Grapevine Butterfly Flutterby & Fall Roundup

Blooms, Tunes and Chili Spoons – Farmers Branch’s Bloomin’ Bluegrass 2012, Oct. 20 & 21

Go “Boo!” in the Zoo at the Fort Worth Zoo, Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 26-28

Build a free bear for needy children with Build-A-Bear’s Stuffed with Hugs, Oct 20-21

Travel the World in a Weekend with Addison WorldFest, Oct. 20 & 21

Have fun!

A Better Way to Bathe Your Baby

Don’t you just love the smell of baby lotion? There’s something about that little pink bottle and massaging it all over my little ones that reminds me how innocent, sweet and soft they are. For a brief moment I forget how bad their diaper wreaked throughout the house and how the mere scent of “baby” is almost enough to get one thinking about popping out another bundle of joy…almost.

Anyhow, I’ve never questioned my go-to baby bath products. They've have been old reliables for my two kids and many, many families before us have used them (their campaign even refers to them as “ the classics.”) However, while the scent is amazing and it has proven to me time and time again that it won’t sting my kiddos eyes when mom  accidently lets it, when you turn over the bottle to the list of ingredients, there’s a lot of things I don’t know how to say and certainly don’t know how to read. And since unfortunately, I’ve decided to be more cognizant of what I’m putting in and on our skin, it made me wonder, “what the heck is in here?”

When I went online I couldn’t even find a breakdown of the ingredients, but I did find a full breakdown of all the reasons that the product is “safe.” While I expect safe from my baby products, I really want to find something that not only smells good, but is organic, natural and doesn’t use anything artificial. And baby, did I find some really good smelling stuff with Dolphin Organics.

Photo courtesy of Dolphinorganics.com

The line recently rolled out their new Norfolk Lavender™ Shampoo Body Wash, Bubble Bath and Lotion line and it smells simply heavenly (have you picked up on the fact that olfaction is important to me?) When I turned off the bottle, the coconut and sunflower oil-based formula was nothing but impressive. Not only were the ingredients listed (and understandable), but the label had broken down what was organic, natural and artificial (note nothing was listed in the artificial column.) Additionally, it was tear-free like my “old standby,” and because lavender has naturally calming effects, it helped to soothe my baby (which is nothing but a happy thing in my world.) One thing I did learn Dolphin Organics products is that its Shampoo/Body Wash is based in organic aloe leaf juice, which has excellent healing properties, so it is perfect for the most delicate skin (which is important to us since both my kids have dry skin.)

Photo courtesy of Dolphinorganics.com

Unfortunately, Dolphin Organics products are a little harder to get in Texas at this time, but thanks to the Internet you can have these large-sized bottles sent to your home directly from their website. I’d suggest getting the whole line, so you can really appreciate the benefits of lavender aromatherapy while you get in the kids clean. (That’s mom multitasking!)

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Social Media Rounded Up with a Donut

Tech Tuesdays

While most of world involves social media and email on a minute-by-minute basis, that's not the case with normal people. I'm often asked by clients as well as by friends (who don't blog), "what is the difference between on all "that social media?"'

I don't consider myself a master of any of them, but like other things in my life, I know a little bit about a lot of things. However, it is nice to have a good frame of reference and to help you steer clear of all the "mess" that can happen when start swimming in the social media pool. And no matter how many things I've read or seen, nothing seems to keep it all in perspective than this Instagram photo from back in February of this year from Douglas Wray. 

Hopefully this will keep you on track of what you should be doing and not doing on social media. My only warning is that after reading this, you will get hungry. And for donuts, no doubt. 

Suck it Up and Suck it In (with a Corset)

Me Mondays - Part of my never-ending challenge to create a better me...

When I think of the word 'corset' I  immediately think of Scarlet and Aunt Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.” The two women working to lace her up before going to the Wilkes BBQ and then later again in the movie, when she talks about trying to make her 21 inch waist go back done to 19 inches.  That actually makes me laugh now since it’s been a while since I was 21 inches – a very long time and I certainly haven't been wearing a corset...at least not until now.

Scarlet and Aunt Mammy work together to cinch her waist back to 19 inches in "Gone With the Wind."

However, what I used to think as that thing that women USED to wear back then (or if you are a pop star on stage) isn’t so passé anymore. Actually corsets are back on the rise reports the BBC; real women are actually wearing them again as daily undergarments in attempts to make things look a little smaller, a little smoother and in some cases, a little sexier. And after giving birth to two children, a girdle or a corset now seems like small potatoes to get all that mess in the middle to look a little better.

Then last week a special package ended up in my mailbox from corsetchick.com. With Halloween around the corner and a mama still without something to wear, I was intrigued to see what the box had in store for me. And of course, being committed to the cause to help other women like myself and in hopes to squeeze my ass into a pair of my B2K (before two kids) jeans, I happily pulled them out and began the siphoning process.

Devil costume includes corset, skirt and accessories. (Photo courtesy of corsetchick.com)  

When I opened things up I found both a witch and a devil complete with a skirt and appropriate accessories.  They were really hot outfits, although it was still going to take some guts and a few shots of liquor to wear thse out of my house. I will admit I now understand why it took Scarlet and Mammy to cinch her in – it really is a two-man process. I had intended to be THAT wife and put one of them on for show after a weekend away, but I really needed his help to put me in it or get it off of me when he got home (it was a lot less sexy and a lot more funny than you could have imagined.)

Add a hat and this corset and skirt becomes a witch costume. (Photo courtesy of corsetchick.com) 

But once I got it on, I did feel pretty hot mama. I couldn't breathe so great, but at least I looked good. And along with a pair of fishnet pantyhose and sexy shoes, I was going to conquer Halloween, even if the only trick-or-treat was going to be happening behind closed doors. ;>

As for suggesting if a corset is for you? That’s all up to you (and your waistline.) However, corsetchick.com can give you a chance to try one out without making a huge financial commitment. And they certainly make it fun with all kinds of cute outfits for Halloween (and more if you’re looking at adult dress up time.) The only thing you should know is to ignore the sizing and cut them off immediately when you receive them at home. For instance a size XL is an 8-10, so if your waistline is over 32 inches, get ready for 2XL. Not exactly what you want to see before you slide your tummy into a piece of lingerie, but that’s nothing a pair of scissors can’t fix. 

Trick-or-Treat!

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")