Her Stocking Stuffers

Friday, November 29, 2013

I know some of you are fighting the masses out there today for some amazing Black Friday deals! Don't forget to get this amazing deal! Here are my top stocking stuffer picks for Her Christmas list this year...



PLUS you can save 40% on all Yes To products till midnight! I'll be getting B these items for her stocking.



           
   



Thank you to YES TO for sponsoring this post!

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family yesterday. Unfortunately, my best friend and college roommate had the horrible news that her brother passed away unexpectedly. Please keep Kelly in your thoughts and prayers. I know you will be flexible with me as I travel to northern California to be with her.

Thanksgiving Tablescape

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

     I finally got my act together and set out the tablescape that I plan on doing at my parents house. Nothing like waiting till the last minute! I saw the cutest idea here and attempted to copy it below by spray painting the chargers with chalkboard paint. Unfortunately when I went to write my family's names across the top the paint came off. :( I'm attempting to let it dry overnight in hopes that I can write on it tomorrow.




"I am blessed." A Pinterest steal for sure. My Dad is gonna love filling this out (not).

paper envelopes that look like trees...swoon!



I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Gobble till you wobble! See you on Friday with my Christmas List for Her (and maybe him). :)

Tradish

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

When I was growing up my Grandma gave us an ornament each year from the Hallmark store. I LOVED opening my new ornament every Christmas and finding a special spot on the tree for it. Now that I am a big girl I still enjoy the memories that the ornaments hold and want to have the same tradition with B. So, this will be her third ornament (last year was her 1st, and the year before that I bought her one when I was prego!). This year I let her pick out her own and she chose a horse (not pictured) but I know that Lala did some damage at Hallmark as well. These are the ones that I have my eye on...

she adores her mini kitchen

"sinweryella" as B calls her

if she could be carted around in a wagon all day she would

coloring is her new found addiction. purple is her color of choice.

Lala may have gotten her this for Christmas

this isn't the horse she chose but the girl is obsessed

"house" as she calls it. the girl loves it.

we love reading this book. M got it for me when we were dating. :)

Yesterday M and I got our Christmas card pictures taken and I am thrilled to say that B was SO good! She was full of giggles and smiles and I can't WAIT to see the images. Here is one I snapped of my two cuties on my phone...


on the way there she was all smiles

and couldn't get enough of daddy's jokes!
Today I am frantically getting ready for Thanksgiving and finally getting around to my tablescape..OY!

Like This

Monday, November 25, 2013

Our weekend started like this since it was raining...

morning snuggles on the couch with MM like this

one of us looks better sans make-up than the other...

friday night date night like this. say sushi!

date night ended like this. she was unsuccessful but not for lack of effort!

drooled over this tray while at target.

enjoyed the sunset on the way to my sleepover with B at my parents' house

smiled every time i saw these guys staring back at me (basket from target)

thought whoever dreampt this lil number up is a genius

crafted a card likethisfast and left it on a friend's door knob. ho ho ho!
 How did your weekend go? Have you started your Thanksgiving preparations? No? Good. Then we are in the same boat. Oy. Off to work on my tablescape stat!!!


PS there is still time to enter this giveaway!

Guest Appearance

Friday, November 22, 2013

     First of all congrats to Brittnee! You won the Yes To! giveaway I hosted. But don't worry friends, if you didn't win there is another way to win right here


     Ahhhh the holidays. Guests galore! I actually love having guests and am really excited because two of my BFF's are flying in in a couple of weeks along with another good friend. I can't wait! I decided to take a peek into the never used guest bathroom upstairs to make sure it was welcoming and fully stocked. I determined a few things were missing so here is what I did using my awesome Yes To products...


bought new chic towels (Target! where else?)

put out some Yes To mini products

made sure the q-tip jar was full

stocked the med cabinet with tooth paste, lotion, hair spray, mouthwash, tooth brushes, hair ties, (new) deodorant, perfume, and lady hygiene products. 

made sure the shower had the essentials

put my extra hair dryer, straightener, and brush under the sink

oh, and potty trained this girl. kidding. but she did ask to sit on the potty... dress: old navy, leggings: h&m
AND don't forget to get your set of FREE Yes To mini products by entering their giveaway! It's super easy and I promise you will love their natural products! May as well save some face this holiday season and have great skin!

Did I mention that Yes To also has great natural baby products? Pretty sure B is going to get some in her stocking this year. :)

This post was sponsored by Yes To but my love of their products is all my own!

Why I Love Riverside

Thursday, November 21, 2013

It's safe to say most people are Riverside haters. And while at some point in my life I have been one, I have to say it's home and there are some good things about it! For one, it's where all of my family and my hubby's family lives and there's something to be said for that (free babysitting!). But on top of that I have gathered a few other reasons to as why the Inland Empire ain't all bad. :) Yes, some people here wear their boxers and jeans to the local beach (sorry, Newport). And then there are quite a few tatted up girls with skunk-like hair dye jobs but we aren't all bro ho's! I promise! Here is why I continue to live in the city of dirt...

1. Mission Inn:

This old hotel has housed celebrities and presidents alike over the years and has THE BEST Christmas lights in southern California. This was the view from our hotel room last year. Stunning! 


we dressed up fancy for M's work party

and a bit more casual to walk the streets below
2. Mt. Rubideaux and Sycamore Canyon
When we used to live closer to downtown I would run up Mt. R all the time. It's the perfect amount of incline and just the right distance (4 miles).

back in the day when I hiked it with B and her friend Charlotte
Sycamore Canyon is closer to our current home and M loves hiking there too:

the picture cracks me up. It's from last year and B is straight Aladdin riding on a camel here.
3. Lux Clothing Store:

Super cute clothes at affordable prices...win win! I love their selection of clothes and I also enjoy shopping local. They girls who work there are very sweet and helpful!


4. Simple Simons, Substation, and Backstreet:

I couldn't do it. I couldn't pick just ONE of my favorite sandwich shops so I highlighted three. There are even a couple other local ones (Jammin' Bread, Butch's) that I love too! Simple Simons has a total hipster vibe and is located in downtown Riverside. Substation is by the UCR campus and has the friendliest owner EVER and a great 70's atmosphere (order the Big Dude!). Finally, Backstreet is located in the heart of Riverside and has the most beautiful outdoor patio area to relax in. All of their sandwiches are different but oh so tasty! You won't be let down.

simple simons

Substation
Backstreet


5. Hunter Park
While we have only been to this park once it was a pretty amazing trip! The second and fourth Sunday of every month a couple of guys who love trains run the show and allow people to ride free! It's a legit track and mini train and B loved it. I bet she would be even more interested in it now that she's gotten older.


choo! choo!
And that's a wrap! See, Riverside isn't all ghetto bad! ;)

And if you are every in the great city of Chicago check out Kendra's top picks for the windy city below!



Why I Love Chicago
One of my favorite things to do is get lost for a day, forget about my normal obligations and lose myself in the hustle and bustle of the city I love. There are so many things to do in the city; I can guarantee a new experience each "me" day. After thinking long and hard about some of the best things to do in the city, I have managed to narrow it down to my favorite few things that are unique to Chicago.

1. Getting my head in the game
Chicago has a sports team in each of the major leagues, baseball, football basketball and hockey. Some of the seasons overlap, so there is almost a guarantee that I will be able to attend at least one sporting event, sometimes even multiple games in a month. Although hockey isn't quite mainstream these days, it is certainly popular here. Our Blackhawks just won another Stanley Cup! Hockey games are great fun for the entire family, or for a night out with a few friends.
2.  On an adventure
When I am feeling particularly adventurous, I like to visit the Skydeck in Willis Tower.  Willis tower is one of the tallest buildings in the world, and on the 103rd floor they have created a glass box to overlook the city.  It almost feels like you're skydiving or floating when you are in it! The glass box extends out from the building, truly a unique and exhilarating experience. Remind yourself that each side is made of three layers of half inch glass, laminated together into one unit. Don't forget to breath, and don't take the stairs!
3.  An overnighter
Chicago is such a beautiful and unique city, and to really appreciate how spectacular it is it's necessary to stay overnight. An overnight stay will enable you to enjoy the skyline and the city lights at night. Seeing the city change from business to nightlife first hand is so interesting, and as a mom it helps me remember that I can still get out and have fun, too. An overnight in Chicago can be a romantic getaway for me and the hubby or a fun overnight with my girlfriends. Booking a hotel on sites such as Gogobot guarantees a great room for a good price.  
4.  Getting some grub
Let's face it: food is always a major player in my days away. If I don't have to cook, I want to enjoy it! South Water Kitchen, located right in the loop, is one of my staples when I'm in the city. Not only is the restaurant owned by a native Chicagoan, it's also fairly priced. They open at 6 and serve all three meals, making this a hit for nearly everyone in the family, even my pickiest eaters.
Chicago is such a lively city all year round, and with these suggestions you can visit at any time of year and really get to see the city. Chicago truly is a gem, and I love the fact that I can live here for years and still discover new and exciting places to see.
 

Blair's Big Girl Room Idea Board

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

I've been in full re-decorate mode in Blair's room lately. I've been pretty successful in selling some of her decor that no longer fits the style I'm going for but still have a couple items left if any of you are interested:

handmade banner $15

pottery barn large tote $30
Email me if you are interested! Natalieb1219@gmail.com

I'm really pleased with the progress so far that I've made on her mini room makeover and created this idea board below:


I'll be adding my own black accent balls to her current curtains from Target. I created the pinwheel backdrop on my own. My MIL is going to cover her current bumper with the grey ikat fabric and she already has the pink diamond Serena and Lily sheets (and pillow). The changing pad cover is from Land of Nod along with the rug. Last weekend I was stoked to find the woven basket for all her stuffies.

I can't even wait to put up her mini Christmas tree in her room but am going to let that be a part of an activity we do on the advent calendar. Might be putting that as day one's activity. :) Looking forward to sharing the end product with you!

Oh and Bella showed Blair this new trick that she just can't. stop. laughing. about! You won't be disappointed!