Currently...{April Edition + Plum Organics GIVEAWAY}

I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I have writer's block...grr!!  It's almost like my head is so full with my never ending "to-do" list that I can't think of one particular topic to write about.  I had this nagging little voice in the back of mind telling me to just open my laptop and get to typing, but I couldn't figure out where to start.  So, I decided on my trusty "Currently" post that is always a winner in my book.  Enjoy!
LOVING:  All my new merchandise I found at Market and is IN TRANSIT as we speak! When I started Royal Feather Nicholas was only about 8 months old so most of my merchandise was targeted for the newborn age group.  As he grew up, so did my product selection.  I'm happy to announce that I'm going back and expanding my Newborn selection - yahoo!!  To start I am bringing in the wonderful and always awesome brand Puj! When Nick was a baby I used the Puj tub and was completely obsessed.  It was the best infant tub I found and would tell anyone willing to listen all about it.  I'm so happy to be carrying this wonderful product PLUS their new Hug {Hands Free Infant Hooded Bath Towel}.  Some more things to come will more than likely be some unique teethers and always useful Muslin swaddling nap blankets, and sippy cups. 

Lollacup (BPA-free, Phthalate-free, Made in the USA) & Puj tubs & Hug Towels will arrive at our shop this Friday! - April 5)

READING:  I was fortunate to have attended Blissdom, a blogging conference, in Dallas a few weeks ago.  It was my first {of many hopefully} time attending such an event and I really wasn't very sure what I was getting into.  One big relief was that I wasn't attending alone.  I met my friend Bianca from Up Up and Away Children's Events there and thank goodness for that! Being in one huge room with 700+ women attendees can be a little overwhelming and very difficult to not feel as if you don't fit it or aren't "as good" as the rest of the bloggers.  I'm really happy I was able to push past my insecurities and put myself out there and approach complete strangers.  That was a big step for me since I can be a little introverted at times but it was definitely worth it.  I was able to connect with and meet other Moms and real powerful women who share in all the same big dreams as I do.  Surrounded by that kind of inspiration and motivation was a really wonderful experience. With that said, I'm currently reading some great books written by some of the speakers at Blissdom.  They've been great reads & wonderful sources of motivation.  I feel like they're speaking directly to me!  I was bummed that I missed Scott Stratten on Friday but getting to listen to C.C. Chapman AND John Acuff on Saturday definitely made up for it. 

WATCHING:  Not much these days - thank you Mr. Time Change! Am I the only one who is hating the Spring Forward time change?! Our son even protested it for almost 3 weeks! What used to be the easiest bedtime routine EVER turned into a complete nightmare.  I had never heard Nicholas scream and cry so much just to go to bed.  Thank you Jesus that now has passed and my sweet baby boy is back to his old self: bath, allergy medicine, cup of milk, brush teeth, story time, and nighty night.  After that, I used to use that quiet time to catch up on TV but now I'm focusing on getting more rest/sleep myself.  Especially when my husband is working really late and it's just me and Nick.   THINKING ABOUT:  Knowing that I have quite a bit of giveaways coming up for all my lovely customers and fans is pretty exciting.  There is no better way to show my appreciation than to give back :)  More on that later... 
ANTICIPATING:  our family vacation! Later on this Fall, if all goes well, we'll be heading to Washington DC and Virginia.  I'm a little nervous since this will be Nicholas' first plane ride but having the opportunity to get away for a little bit and visit such a historic place will be worth it.  Any traveling tips are greatly appreciated and welcome!  
WISHING:  Of opening my own brick & mortar Royal Feather.  I love going to Market but at the same time I feel like I'm being held back.  There is so much that I find and want to bring in because 1) we don't have it available to us in our area and 2) the manufactures of these products aren't huge companies that simply mass produce everything.  Instead, they really care!  My last trip to Market a few weeks ago was great because my main goal was to attend a new temporary show.  All the vendors I met were so wonderfully sweet and most importantly, they were completely in love with and invested in their product.  And to me, that is what makes a product great - when you have a parent who has created such an item out of necessity and is so passionate about it that they feel the need to make it available to everyone. Little by little I'm working to get my shop to the next level.  Please feel free to share my link and tell all your friends about our awesome little spot on the web to help me get there! I'll be eternally grateful :)
MAKING ME HAPPY:  the time of the year.  I'm so happy that it's April and warmer weather is upon us.  I am a total beach lover and plan on making more of an effort to take Nick out to the beach - we do only live an hour away.  I also need to get him signed up for his swimming lessons and I'm even thinking of highlighting my hair or going ombre.  There's just something about Summertime that always makes me want to lighten my extremely dark hair.  But then I remember how annoying the maintenance can be and I change my mind.  We'll see what I decide.   
And now, what you've all been waiting for...my Plum Organics GIVEAWAY!!  When Nicholas started eating solids, I made him all his first foods myself.  It was easy because I was a stay-at-home-Mom and Nick loved all the fresh fruits and veggies.  But once I needed to start integrating meats into his diet, I turned to the Plum Organics Training Meals because making the meats at home was just gross to me.  I just couldn't handle the smell and the texture was chalky.  There was no way I was going to feed that to my baby.  I felt comfortable feeding this brand of food to Nick because it is made with all natural and organic ingredients and the ingredient list isn't compromised of anything that I couldn't pronounce.  As he got older, we tried all their Tots and Kids snack options and all of them were a hit.  I love this line so much that I decided to share it with all of YOU! 
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently...{February edition}

I am SO excited about this year and all the AMAZING plans I have for Royal Feather {the shop}.  I am very passionate about my store and dream for it to become THE gift and accessories destination that everyone would think of when they need a special gift.  I'm working hard and steadily building my brand and my business to get to that level.  I hope you will stick around and follow me along my journey.  Don't forget to follow the blog {click Join This Site at the bottom of the left column} so you can always stay up-to-date with all that's happening in our little world.  But for now, I'm currently...
LOVING:  that my husband and I were able to take a mini vacation Super Bowl weekend.  We jetted off to Las Vegas and did all the fun stuff - shop, gamble, eat, and enjoy all the craziness Vegas has to offer.  

Quick photo op in front of the Trevi Fountain while shopping at the Forum Shops inside Caesar's Palace

The BEST part of the weekend was the George Strait concert we went to.  I've seen him in concert several times before but this one was special since I was fortunate enough to enjoy it with my husband. Such a great night and loved hearing all of George Strait's classics like Amarillo by Morning, The Chair, hits from Pure Country, and of course The Cowboy Rides Away. 

Martina McBride was phenomenal! Her voice is just amazing and she's so beautiful - great show!

  READING:  Every night before bed, I read Nicholas two-three books as part of his little bedtime routine.  His library is pretty big so I strive to read him something different every night. Although some how his 'Trucks' book manages to slip into rotation very often.  This little boy loves trains, trucks, cars, and Mickey Mouse.  What are your favorite bed time story books?  
WATCHING:  hardly anything these days.  When Nick gets home from school he wants to watch a few episodes of Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, or Little Einsteins.  But stocked up on our DVR are the usual juicy dramas for us - Dallas, Suits, Revenge, Nashville and of course our favorite crime dramas too - CSI Las Vegas and Law & Order SVU.  While Nick is catching up on his shows, I'm making dinner and our breakfast and lunches for the following day.  After that, its bath, story time, and then bed for our munchkin.  We've been blessed to have a baby that has always been a great sleeper.  Before I go to bed, I like to sneak in to his room and check on him.  I caught this great snapshot of him the other night.  

Yes, that's a Micky Mouse, a bear, a rabbit, and "Gilbert" his Glow Seahorse all in his crib.  They HAVE to be in there in order for him to be ready for bed.  Kids and their crazy ways :)

     THINKING ABOUT:  all the things on my always growing "to do" list.  I'm planning out what merchandise to bring into the shop next {it's going to be super cute accessories for boys AND girls}, printing flyers, reprinting more business cards, our current CUTEST BABY PHOTO CONTEST which is going to followed by a few more AMAZING giveaways, scheduling my Pilates regimen around Jacob's Crossfit schedule, building Nick's outfit for his Easter pictures, and getting ready to participate in a few local marketplace events.  Plus throw in the usual grocery shopping, breakfast/lunch/dinner making, and laundry.  I'm exhausted just typing all that!   
ANTICIPATING:  heading to Dallas next month to attend the blogging conference BlissDom! I'm so excited to be attending and to learn how to be a better blogger.  When I first started this blog, I wanted to have a creative outlet while I was staying home with Nicholas.  I wanted people to see that there was a real Mom behind Royal Feather in order for them to feel confident about their purchases - to know that what we have to offer are tried and true products that are meant to be useful and fun.  I wanted to be able to interact with parents all over the world because I feel that's how we learn and grow as parents - when we talk to one another and exchange ideas and advice.      WISHING:  for a baby girl :) We'd love to give Nicholas a sibling soon but with so much we have going on I begin to wonder how we would manage one more child.  Of course I know it can be done and it will happen when it should.  But I can't help but look for inspiration for a baby girl's nursery on Pinterest and even toss around names for this future baby.  Jacob and I had even thought about both of us going back to school to get our Master's degrees but then we'd REALLY not have any spare time.  I guess we'll just wait and see what God has in store for us.  I know he will never bring us to something we wouldn't be able to handle :)       MAKING ME HAPPY:  Is it cheesy if I say my LIFE?! My life and who I spend it with truely does make me happy every day.  I created my store from scratch and continue to mold it and shape it into what I feel it needs to be.  I'm constantly growing more passionate about it and I just KNOW that it will become the store front I've always dreamed of.  We have this beautiful little boy that constantly amazes us and makes us smile and laugh without even trying.  He has such a sweet soul and is quite the little charmer; he'll have you wrapped around his little finger in no time!  He attends a preschool that he loves going to every day - that alone makes me happy! To watch his little face light up when he sees his teacher and his friends is just awesome.  I can go about my day knowing that he's learning and having fun in a safe and comfortable environment.  He's constantly learning something new {ie. days of the week, alphabet - and yes, he sings it, numbers 1-12, colors, shapes, math, and he planted seeds this week!}  My husband has been my #1 fan since the day we met and was so supportive when I came to him with my idea to start Royal Feather.  He patiently listens to me as I constantly brainstorm ideas with him, shlepped the the NEVER ENDING halls of the Dallas Market Center last Summer while I was on the hunt for the perfect new merchandise for the shop, builds my booth displays, sets up and breaks down most of my displays at events, and most importantly, is the most hard-working and devoted man I know.  And he {mostly ;) } does it all with zero complaints.  He's an amazing husband, father, and supporter AND I simply couldn't ask for more.  I'm blessed to have a cousin who is my best friend.  She'll help me out in a pinch, always makes me laugh but lets me be serious with her too, is an awesome nanny to Nicholas, and is so much like me it's almost scary.  And lastly, I'm fortunate to have an amazing Mom.  She'll do anything for her children and grandchildren, drop whatever she's doing at a moment's notice just to lend a helping hand, be our biggest supporter, love unconditionally, and most importantly, she's always there for us.  God has blessed our little family with so many beautiful things that there is no way I couldn't be happy.  

***CONTEST TIME***  For all my lovely locals {anyone who lives in the Rio Grande Valley}, don't forget to submit your photos for our CUTEST BABY PHOTO CONTEST.  The submission deadline has been extended until this Sunday, February 24th at 9:00pm CST.  Voting will begin Monday morning at 6:00am and continue through Friday, March 1 at 9:00pm.  The photo with the most LIKES will be announced as the winner shortly after voting has ended.  The lucky winner will win a free 1-hour on location photo session {could be just your child or entire family, you pick}, artistic editing, 20 digital images, virtual gallery, AND (10) 4x6 prints.  This fabulous prize is being sponsored by the talented Esmeralda of Luz Natural Fotografia.     

Thank you everyone for stopping by!

My Local Celebrity Moment

A few weeks ago Royal Feather was fortunate to have been asked to make a TV appearance on one of our local news stations.  The fact that our shop aims to primarily stock all natural and/or organic products was what sparked the interview so those items are the ones I showcased. 

  It was only after I became a Mom two years ago that all these "BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, all natural" terms became common knowledge for me.  I wasn't too concerned with them before Nicholas since I figured I had lived my whole life without worrying about them and I'm completely healthy.  But as soon as Nicholas came into the world, my mentality completely changed.  
When I shop for Royal Feather I always keep my customers in mind - the babies, toddlers, young children and their parents.  If I think it's important to use healthy alternatives for my son, you can bet that I'm going to make sure I'm going to extend that same concern for all my little shoppers.   

Excellent Choices for Your  Little Ones

Making Bath Time Fun

Kids love to be entertained and sometimes you even have to make bath time a show. These new 100% organic cotton bath mits double as puppets and as learning tools - help your little ones learn some new animal sounds. Choose from the Pig, Alligator, or Hippo. And the great thing about the Sophia and Porter hooded towels is that they don't have to only be used at bath time, they can easily be used at the beach or by the pool. All these items are also great gifts because they're USEFUL; you know every kid has to be bathed {whether they like to be or not :) }

ALL-NATURAL HAIR CARE

Hot Tot is the only professional line formulated for the physical characteristics of children's hair. Their formulas are gentle yet effective and contain a unique combination of highly-effective natural ingredients. Hot Tot products are infused with antioxidants and are hypoallergenic. The complete line of Hot Tot is designed to cleanse, condition, and style your child's hair.

MEALTIME MUST-HAVES

These AMAZING silicone bowls and storage jars are a fantastic alternative to plastic. Because these dishes are silicone, they're easy to clean, can withstand hot and cold temperatures (so they're dishwasher, freezer, and microwave-safe) and most importantly are BPA, lead, and phthalates-free. Kinderville has now started packing these in only sets of (2), but I still have a few of the 4-pack cases left. Get them while they last!

Everyone loves to dress up their tiny tots and now you can even make them look super cute when they eat.  Our boy options are either blue or lime and they are adorned with this dapper little bow tie.  The girl options are pink and lavender and both have the double-strand necklace.  All the bibs are adjustable for a wide range of ages and are extremely soft and flexible.  No more scrubbing and pretreating those fabric bibs! Just wipe these guys clean and call it done.

Awesome assortment of unique fun spoons for your baby and toddler.  Not only are they great at mealtime, but because they're silicone and are soft and flexible, they work really well as teethers too!

These affordable options are really neat because they're made out of plants! More specifically, the boy and girl sippy cup sets are made using renewable Plastarch Material and the dinnerware set is bio-based and also made from renewable plant fibers.    

...A FEW MORE GREEN OPTIONS

This adorable little 4-piece set makes for the perfect Take Me Home outfit or loungewear for your little newborn.  Then for the new little man in your life we now carry these great sports-themed burp clothes.  Now feeding time can be a Dad's job too ;)

Shopping for the perfect items to bring to the shop is always a challenge because people obviously have very different expectations.  Just know that I try my best to bring you only the most functional and unique merchandise that you and your little ones will enjoy.  Check out our site, shop around, and follow our blog to read about what's happening behind the scenes or LIKE us on facebook to always stay up-to-date with new merchandise, sales, and giveaways.  And speaking of giveaways, I'll let you guys in on a little secret...we have an AMAZING giveaway in the works.  All I'll say for now is that we were fortunate enough to have a BIG sponsor help us out with the prize.  Stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by!

Year End Wrap-Up

So 2012 has come and gone and we're already 7 days into the new year.  I cannot wrap my mind around how quickly time really does fly by.  After I went back to work full-time in September, all my spare time to maintain this blog quickly dwindled away.  One of my New Year's Resolutions is to carve out time every week to publish at least one new post.  I started Royal Feather because I loved connecting with new parents and their kids and helping them find amazing and useful products for their children.  This blog helped me connect with my fans on a much bigger level, and I miss that.  Since it's been a few months since my last post, this will be a photo blog of sorts instead.  Just a little recap of how our year ended.

Must Try Recipes

1.  Cheesy Egg & Bacon Pull-Apart Biscuits  2.  Mandarin Orange Oatmeal To-Go  3.  Strawberry Shortcake Muffins  4.  Hash Browns Breakfast Bites  5.  Clean Eating Tilapia  6.  Chicken Piccata  7.  Easy Bean & Cheese Burritos

I'm very grateful for all the meals Nicholas' school provides, but there are times when I'm not too happy with their breakfast options.  So because of that, I'll make batches of Hash Browns Breakfast Bites along with some type of a muffin (ie. items #3) and send him off to school with a healthy breakfast to start his day.  Both of these recipes were taste-tested by our little guy and were pretty good.  The beauty of the Breakfast Bites is their ability to never be boring {you can always vary what you mix into the hash browns; chopped bacon, turkey crumbles, chives, sausage, etc.}  Not only were they tasty but the fact that they're bite sized is a big plus.  Anything that he can grab and eat with his little hands is great since he's Mr. Independent now :)  The new oatmeal flavor was also a big hit with Jacob.  As I've mentioned before, there are days when he has to be at work at 4 or 5am so his lunch break is really a breakfast break.  These flavorful and healthy oatmeal options are pretty popular in our house as well.  

Project Pergola: Complete

After countless hours, (4) boxes of deck screws, (8) 8x8 cedar posts, (8) 2x12 cedar boards, (19) 2x6 cedar planks, (45) 2x2 cedar strips, and 5 gallons of Behr wood stain -  the pergola is finished!!  

 Fall Family Fun

Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Nick all dressed up with his pilgrim hat for Thanksgiving lunch, and Indian Corn teacher gifts for Nick's awesome teachers at his preschool

Nicholas Parties with 

Chuck E Cheese

Last year Nicholas' 1st birthday party was rained out so this year I wasn't taking any chances.  The theme to his 2nd birthday was tailored around his current obsession, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  I was so bummed that I didn't get a picture of his awesome cake before we added the candles.  But as you fellow Mommies know, you have to be quick when snapping photos of a toddler! I want to send a huge THANK YOU to the amazingly talented Jessica from Wee Sweet Treats for creating such a magical cake.  Everyone loved it!  And since Nick's birthday was on a Tuesday, I baked some super cute reindeer cupcakes for his class and staff members of his preschool.  They came out great! Super fun and kid-friendly.

 Christmas Time is a Happy Time

Christmas was actually a little challenging for us this year.  The three of us were hit with a pretty bad viral infection that lasted almost 3 days.  As a result, we missed Christmas but did our best to get better ASAP and at least celebrate the weekend after.  Nicholas absolutely loved his train table from Santa - it was a HUGE hit!  Traditionally we spend Christmas day at my Mom's parents' house but since we couldn't make it (nor could some other family members), we had a little re-do on the Saturday after.  We ate tamales, played games, exchanged gifts, and took some pretty memorable pictures.  Nick even popped fireworks for the first time! I love seeing our little guy have so much fun. His little smile always makes my heart so happy.  Here, Nick happily posed with his Great Grandpa.

All in all, 2012 was a pretty great year.  I love looking back through photos and reliving all our wonderful experiences.  As a family we laughed, we cried, we grew stronger together and as individuals, and we learned to reprioritize.  I learned to let go of things and people who won't change and are simply negative influences in our lives.  If you can't be happy for us, then I'm done trying to convince you.  In 2013 I have no plans of making unrealistic resolutions.  All I resolve to do is to be happy, healthy, and wise.  I want to only surround my family with all things positive and sincere - no stress and no drama!  I will continue working on growing Royal Feather and making an even happier home with my best friend - my Jacob.  Cheers to another amazing year!!
Thanks for stopping by!  

Currently...

Oh my goodness!!  We are halfway through September...where have the days gone?!  Nicholas started Preschool two weeks ago and I somehow have less time to get work done than when he was at home.  I miss my late nights where I could blog and stay connected.  Oh well, Nick is doing wonderfully at school so if going to bed early is what it takes to get him there on time, so be it.  Our little boy comes first and I'll continue to try and squeeze in time when I can to get all my thoughts/projects/recipes out to all of you :)  But for now, I'm currently...
Loving:  although it's still pretty hot outside I have been excited to see all the signs of Fall in stores and was anxious to do some decorating at home.  We don't have a mantel that I can decorate seasonally so my entryway is my next-best-thing.  I'm absolutely loving my Pottery Barn-inspired decor!   

Reading:  I used to have this obsession with all things fashion.  I easily knew what new trend could be paired with something classic and what trends needed to be avoided all together.  Putting an outfit together from head to toe was once so effortless.  But then came baby and life as a stay-at-home mom and all my fashion sense went right out the window!  With some new and exciting changes coming my way {you'll read more about them in a bit}, I'm struggling to find solutions in a sea of clothing racks; it's a world that seems so foreign to me now.  In order to find my way back to my old self, I recently picked up practically every fashion mag on newstands right now promising me "easy Fall hair & makeup", "your most stylish Fall ever", and "125 cute outfit ideas & easy styling tricks."  Let's hope I find what I'm looking for!     
Watching:  Glee is back and that's a sign that Fall TV is just around the corner!!  Shows I'm anticipating the most are Revenge, CSI Las Vegas, Modern Family, and Law & Order SVU.  Grey's Anatomy was always a big show for me as well but I'm really disappointed that so many of the main characters have left the show.  I'm not sure how much I'll watch this season.         
Thinking about:  my 10 year high school reunion.  Yup, TEN YEARS!  Talk about feeling old.  As a former class officer I've been helping with some of the planning and with only two weeks until the Homecoming football game, it's all coming up fast.  The funny thing about reunions {for me at least and this is all just my personal opinion} is that I really don't see the point of them since the inception of Facebook.  Facebook is my high school and college reunion.  Everything and everyone you've ever met and known is on there.  You can read and see all about what former classmates have done since you've last seen them and what they're up to today.  But for the sake of tradition, I'll be there cheering on my Alma Matter.    
Anticipating:  a new chapter in our lives.  It's funny how once you go through change it is then when you realize how quickly time goes by.  After Nicholas was born it was so difficult for me to imagine him any bigger than the little baby that fit so snuggly in my arms.  Now as he's approaching 2 years old I can't believe how impossibly quick these past 20 months have flown by.   
Wishing:  for a day to sleep in again.  Sleeping in was such a beautiful thing when Nicholas stayed home. We didn't worry about bedtimes or nap times because we just hung out and ran errands together throughout the week.  We were really laid back and didn't have a strict schedule.  But now, all that has changed.  But it's a good change and I'm completely grateful.  Nicholas has adapted quickly to school and the positive feedback we get on his daily report cards reassure us that we made the right decision.  He's learning so much and getting to play and socialize with other children his age.  It's a beautiful thing to see our baby grow.  We wish for a wonderful life for him and will give him all the nurturing, love, and guidance we can to ensure that.   

  
Making me happy:  life.  I have so many things to be grateful for and particularly right now because we've had such great opportunities present themselves.  After talking it over with Jacob for quite some time, I made the decision to go back to work full-time and not only was I offered a job, - I was offered TWO jobs.  I don't have an official start date so until then I'll continue to get my house as organized as possible...since I'm pretty sure that's how we'll all be able to stay on track.  I'm excited and anxious for my new opportunity and look forward to new challenges.  Don't get me wrong, Royal Feather will continue to be my passion professionally so please continue to shop and visit the website, but it might become part-time for now - until we decide for baby #2 :)   
Thank you all for stopping by!   

Retail Therapy

Saturday I went to the mall to buy some necessities for Nicholas and came out with some little goodies for myself as well, I just couldn't resist :)
During Nick's first year I stopped wearing strong perfumes and lotions because I didn't want to overwhelm his little senses with such powerful scents.  So since he's bigger and walking now and doesn't have to be carried and risk having my perfume transfer onto him and his clothes, I'm welcoming perfumes back into my life!  There were so many great options to choose from and it was very difficult to pick just one!  My perfumes of choice need to smell fresh, clean, fruity, a little sweet, and need to have staying power - but never so strong that people sitting at the next table from you at a restaurant can smell it {that happened to us before we went shopping - yuck!!}.  So, these were my options:

Hippie Chic won over the other three but it took me a while to finally make my selection.  Once this bottle runs out and I need a refill I might purchase the Bvlgari Omnia or the Armani one....oh who knows! By then there will probably be a whole slew of new perfumes to chose from. 
And then of course, I had to go to Sephora and pick up this super versatile eye shadow palette that I have been lusting over for quite some time now.  Urban Decay did release a new version, Naked 2, but I like the original better.

This super fab palette also includes a brush and a bottle of their lid primer.  I love how these colors can be worn solo for a simple daytime look but also layered to match a more dressy evening outfit.

Now I couldn't leave Jacob out of our little shopping fun.  His shirt of choice is usually a traditional Polo shirt and fortunately for my wallet Dillard's was having an amazing sale.  Almost the entire Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer collection was on sale.  Polos were half off!!    
And one last little treasure I discovered was a new store, Call it Spring.  A pair of some cute and comfy flats caught my eye and an awesome handbag.  I couldn't decide what color to get the bag in so I figured I would go back later if I really felt like I had to have it.  After walking around the store and looking over all the merchandise, I kind of felt as if I was inside Aldo but with much nicer price tags.  When I got home I whipped open my MacBook and hit up Google -  sure enough, Call it Spring is an Aldo Group brand.  And luckily I didn't purchase anything because once I was on their website, I saw an opportunity to get a 10% off coupon.  All you have to do is sign up for their newsletter.  So you see, good things do come to those who wait :)     
What kind of retail therapy have you indulged in lately?

Recipe Roundup

If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen snap shots of some of the delicious new recipes we have tried recently.  All were great and of course we now have some family favorites. 

 Loaded Fruit Smoothie

Now this smoothie recipe is pretty much a mix of two pins I found on Pinterest.   The Martha Stewart oatmeal smoothie and another pin that showed making smoothie bags - baggies with 1.5 cups of sliced fruit and 3 frozen tablespoons of frozen yogurt.  And by frozen tablespoons of yogurt I mean using an ice cube tray with 1 Tbl of yogurt in each cube space.  The baggies are meant to be tossed into the blender with as much juice or milk as you like.  For me, the smoothies came out tasting like only milk or only orange from the juice so I wound up with about 6 baggies just sitting in my freezer....until now!  

Loaded Fruit Smoothie

1 - smoothie bag*

1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1 - 1 1/2 tablespoons honey {this will depend on how sweet you like your smoothies}

1 cup coconut water {again this will depend on you - how thick you like your smoothie.  Start off with 1/2 cup and then slowly add as needed}

*for my smoothie bags I used strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and bananas.  I imagine any other fruit would work too.

Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

I'm pretty sure I'm obsessed with anything that's "Hawaiian"....it could be associated with my dream of one day living on a beach...regardless, this sandwich was delicious!

Mexican Lasagna

This was a big hit with the Hubs and I!  Nick loved the black bean, corn, and cheese layer. 

Taco Pasta 

 It all turned out great! The only thing I would do next time is add some ketchup or tomato sauce to give the ground beef some color and a little more flavor.

Italian Chicken with Basil, Tomato & Parmesan Seashell Pasta

I like to cook chicken tenders more than chicken breasts because they cook faster and are much more juicy.  I recently discovered these salad dressing mix packets and decided to use them as seasoning on the chicken.  Best idea EVER!!

Tilapia with Cheesy Zucchini Rice

This rice dish was DELICIOUS!! This was probably my favorite because everyone loved it - Jacob, Nicholas, and of course me.  Tilapia was fantastic too.  Great taste and if even the toddler enjoys it, you know you have a winner!

Baked Salmon 

Not only was this salmon amazing, but it was super quick and easy to bake.  And with a side of jasmine rice that was cooked in the rice cooker - bam! Dinner was ready in under 30 minutes.  That is MAJOR with two hungry boys in the house :)

I highly recommend all these meals and hope you try them out in your home.  Feel free to leave the link to your recipe posts in my comments so I can check them out too :)

Thanks for stopping by!