Sharing my "I am Loved" Story... {& a Helzberg Giveaway!}

This post is sponsored by Helzberg Diamonds but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Did you know when Barnett Helzberg proposed to his other half, Shirley Bush in 1967, he felt a true spark and thought to himself, everyone should feel this, everyone should feel loved? This totally romantic thought inspired the "I Am Loved" lapel pin that Helzberg is so aptly known for. These simple little symbols of can be found around the world, expressing love of all kinds and that's just so incredible to me.

Love is one of those things that can always evolve and grow, but it's a constant too. I've grown up with so much love in my life, from family members showing me they care when they absolutely didn't "have to", to having friends go above and beyond and showing me their true colors in the best way possible. I've been blessed to have a lot of love in my life, but I truly didn't know what love was until I saw my daughter for the first time.

I can remember the rush of incredible emotions I felt the second they laid her down upon my chest. The way she looked into my eyes, the feeling of her knowing I was mama. It was INCREDIBLE. That first look into her eyes is what got me hooked on her love... and well, I've been wrapped around her finger ever since.

I overflow with adoration for her when I catch a glimpse of her admiring me now. I can't even handle how she imitates my every move and I especially melt when she spins her hair through her little fingers and bashfully tells me "Mama, I love you so much". Her little love is SO pure, it's the biggest and most fulfilling love I've ever experienced. I am so thankful for her love and I know she feels the same way about me... and that's truly what makes our love so special.

While she may test me at times, our love is like no other... and that's how I know I am truly loved.

Do you have a special love story? Whether it's the love of your sweet baby girl or the adoration you feel from your husband, share a photo with #IAmLovedContest and finish the sentence "I know I am loved because..." for a chance to win a $250 gift card to Helzberg Diamonds! Want more information, find it here.

Toddler Bedtime is ALL Unicorns & Rainbows with Hefty Petz

I was sent a blanket to review for this post,  regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

We recently were lucky enough to be sent a weighted blanket from Hefty Petz and I have nothing but amazing things to say about the it. It's super soft, the quality is amazing, the weight is just right for my little one to feel comforted, and the design is ADORABLE.

D loves it because it's a cute little unicorn and she calls it her heavy super girl blanket, because she feels powerful when she carries it out of bed with her, to read in our chair. It's pretty much the most perfect addition to our plethora of blankets and definitely our most used since receiving it.

Speaking of D's favorite things, Hefty Petz asked me to interview my sweet girl and I thought it was fun enough to share with y'all! She seemed to really enjoy answering these questions.  If you decide to interview your sweet kiddos, let me know in  the comments below - kids say the funniest things, so I can't wait to hear.

*Q1: At what age did you first start sleeping on your own? 
1.5 and it made me feel like a super hero!!

*Q2: What makes you feel brave? 
When I drink my own water. When mama gives me hugs and kisses, that makes me feel brave too.

Q3: If you could have one superpower what would it be? 
Um, like flying, probably.

*Q4: What do you want to be when you grow up? 
A ghost or a monster or a teacher?

Q5: What makes you so awesome? 
When I play dress up.

*Q6: What is something you do now that you need an adult for but would like to try to do all by yourself?  
Playdoh.

Q7: If you wrote a book, what would it be about? 
It would be about a monster.

Q8: If you were a teacher and could teach your students anything at all, what would you teach them?
 I would teach the kids to sing and to trace their letters.

*Q9: What do you look forward to when you wake up? 
10... and going on a walk and my toys.

Q10: What's a memory that makes you happy?
Playing playdoh with my daddy

Q11: What do you think you’re going to dream about tonight? 
The fairy and the playground and presents... and figuring out the fairy's name.

My Curly Girl Secret and How I'm Healing my Hair with Giovanni!

This post is sponsored by Giovanni, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Having curly hair has always been a struggle for me. I'm constantly fighting the frizz and trying to tame the 'fro or straightening it and then watching humidity change that back into some funky frizzy mess. I felt like I had tried everything, I started resorting to pony tails ALL THE TIME because I've never really found something that makes me say 'OH, wow' about my natural hair texture -- until now, that is.

I recently started using Giovanni and the products I've added into my curl routine are a legit GAME CHANGER. It's like I brought some of the salon magic hairstylist always seem to have home with me, except these aren't just available from salons - they're for everyone and available at most health food stores (and some grocers too).

Why health food stores for hair products? Well, Giovanni is not just a salon-quality brand, it's an "eco-chic", vegan-friendly and cruelty-free company as well. They are the epitome of what every hair company should strive to be. Great smelling, effective, and more natural than anything else I've ever used. All of their products are made containing no harsh chemicals or toxic ingredients and they've never tested on animals - so they're pretty much the coolest, in that sense. Speaking of being cool, I'm obsessed with the fact that the whole line seems to be tailored to fit my hairstyle, yet it's so versatile and can be used for so many hair types and textures.

That's the thing though, they've got this "hair thang" figured out. Not surprisingly though, since Giovanni has been bridging the gap between natural and salon quality since 1979 and they've developed a trusted formula that is already transforming my hair texture in just a few washes!

How is that even possible?

The Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner I was sent have a super luxurious lather to them that soothes my dry (overly processed from all of the dying) hair, while gently cleansing to help keep the hair smooth and calm. Being free of lauryl and laureth sulfate, parabens, and other harsh chemicals makes my hair so happy.

The Giovanni L.A. Hold Styling Gel grabs onto style and holds on tight with extreme hold. It's the strongest gel they offer, but doesn't leave your hair feeling "crispy" like other gels. It helps control frizz and increase shine with surface enhancers, while again still being cruelty-free.

The The Frizz Be Gone Hair Serum is what I'm really bragging about today, though. This liquid style enhancer is what frizzy haired girls like me are dying to find. It creates the perfect sealant, helping to control frizz, add shine, infuse with conditioners, and lock in hair color. Living in Florida, you know it's humid and this heavy-duty, yet light-weight in texuture, hair serum is the answer to the muggy, afro-puff-inducing- humidity that we all hate dealing with. Not only does it make my hair less wild, it helps smooth and detangle while stopping breakage AND provides heat protection while sealing in color!

Lastly, The Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner restores strength and luster for abused hair, while moisturizing and building body. The best part is, it helps with detangling and makes for easy styling - that's a serious win in my book and my curls agree.


While my hair is still "healing" from all of the damage I've done to it over the years, I'm already seeing my curls bounce back and the texture feels so much less brittle and overworked. If you're struggling with hair insecurities, I'm going to tell you right now - Giovanni is the only brand you can trust. I haven't found any other brand that beats the salon quality and performance of Giovanni hair products. Their Eco Chic line is truly the best out there and they make products for each and every hair type! Straight, wavy, curly, or coily - be prepared to see your hair at it's healthiest. Check out the website to find which line will work best for you!

5 Ways You & Your Pooch Should Prepare For Your Next Adventure Together...

Thank you Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® for sponsoring this post. Complete and trusted flea and tick prevention starts with Hartz!

It may not "officially" be summer yet, but it definitely is summer in Florida already. The heat is here, the water is perfect, the beaches are incredible, and my family is ready to go on adventures.

But here's the thing, getting prepared for adventures isn't as easy as walking out the door with this little pack of wild animals. haha. Between preparing snacks, sunscreen, and entertainment for our toddler and being sure our two pups are ready to take on the wildnerness with Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®, it's easy to see why it takes a little bit to get ready to go.

Do you have a canine companion you want to have accompany you on your next adventure? Here's 5 ways I suggest you & your pooch prepare for your next great voyage.

1. Treat your Pups - Before heading out on any adventure, we always make sure our dogs are guarded against annoying pests like fleas and ticks. After trying a few different brands we finally found the perfect fit with Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®!

Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® is the answer to your summertime worries. From topical treatments to collars, they have your back... or I suppose I should say your dog's back covered! We use the patented  and easy-to-use Pro-Glide drops and are huge fans, with Aloe infused and an easy application, my dogs and I are both huge fans!

Wondering where you can find Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®? Check out the website to find a location near you that carries it and learn more about Hartz!

2. Bring the H20 - We always bring our handy-dandy little water dispenser on all adventures with our canines. Whether it's a long walk around the park, a full day at the beach, or a day spent at the dog park - our dogs always appreciate access to water and a reusable little water dispenser is the perfect way to keep their thirst quenched!

3. Entertainment - Just like with our sweet baby girl, our dogs need entertainment when we go out. We don't let them sit and watch paw patrol though! Ha. We bring interactive toys and let our sweet girl and our darling pups get a little rowdy. We tend to bring tennis balls to play fetch, a frisbee, some seek & find type of toys, or maybe even just a rope toy for tug-of-war.

4. Leash & Collar with "dog license" (and don't forget the plastic bags too) -This is an obvious must, but we've been guilty of forgetting it in the past! Here locally we need to have their rabies tags on them anytime they leave the house, so we just attach them to their collars - which also makes them kinda musical as they move about. I'll just call that free entertainment. Ha.

Beyond the tag and collar, be sure to bring a leash and maybe even an extra one in your car or pocket - I only mention this because ours randomly broke recently and it was a moment of pure panic for a brief second. Speaking of panic, don't get busted not picking up after your pooch - bring some bags for pick up with you on your adventure!

5. Training Treats -Another type of bag you should probably grab is your treat bag! We love to bring treats on our adventures to help them remember to behave. While our dogs are pretty good anyways, they both are food motivated and will straighten up any type of misbehaving if they think they're going to get something tasty.

With all of that said, I think the most important part of preparing for any adventure is making sure your family is protected from harmful pests along the way! Apply bug spray for you and the kiddos and be sure to treat your furry kiddo with Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®!

How to Plan a Fun & Flirty Day Date

This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

So here's the scoop, I'm all about dating your spouse - even if you have kids, even if you both are busy, even if whatever... it's important to keep that connection alive and to have fun with your significant other. So... on a whim, earlier this week I planned a little day date!

I had this fun little picnic idea in mind, but when hubs finally had an afternoon off it was pouring and Delainey was cranky, so we laid her down for a nap and I decided to bring the beach vibes to our sun room and we had a little day date in there.

Wondering how I threw this day-date idea together? Totally on a whim - but here's the details:

1. Start Your Date Out Right with Sparkling Ice-

I'm not going to lie, I've been a fan of this delicious brand of beverages for a while, but when I saw they had a NEW mystery flavor I was super intrigued. I mean who doesn't love a good guessing game?

Once I noticed there's a chance to win a Holland Cruise Pack Grand Prize, as well as a ton of other prizes - I figured we might as well grab a couple to try out and give it our best guess!

First we tried it alone, then we tried it with a splash of vodka and a pineapple garnish... and can I just tell y'all, this is heavenly. If you like beachy drinks, without all that overly powerful juice flavor, then this is the cocktail for you.

We both took a few sips and we're saying cheers in no time. I mean, this stuff is GOOD! I can't pin-point the flavor other than "tropical" and "delicious", but maybe you can figure it out? Get your hands on the delicious Sparkling Ice Mystery flavor today, available at most retailers!

2. Whip Up a Quick and Delicious Dish -

We are pretty big fans of mexican food with tropical drinks so I instantly knew we had to whip up some taquitos together. We both put our hands to work in the kitchen and made the most delicious little wrapped pockets of goodness and a firey, yet tasty verde salsa!

Want that recipe? Check this post out!

3. Put on Some "Background Noise" -

Whether you're the type to have reality tv on while you talk about your day or you're more like us and prefer some streaming tunes while chatting - go ahead and put something on to set the mood. I picked a throwback station for us and it played some of our favorite songs that we used to listen to when we were dating.

4. Play Games -

Simple, fun games are always a hit in our house, especially when we are trying to wait out the rain and let our kiddo nap. We decided to play some cards today, next time maybe we'll bust out Monopoly... things always get a little crazy and competitive when we play and that's actually what makes it more fun to play with hubs more than anyone.

5. Don't Stress -

My final tip when planning your date is to "just go with the flow", I could have been upset when it started pouring rain (and admittedly, I was for a few seconds) but I decided it didn't matter where we were as long as we were together. So I put on a smile and still had a blast, even though our "date" was simple.

Want to plan a day-date in with your other half? Be sure to grab a couple of the Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavors so you guys can take turns guessing what the flavor is... and enter the sweepstakes!

28 Budget-Friendly, FUN, Family Activities to Do This Summer!

28 Budget-Friendly, FUN Family Activites to Do This Summer!

1. Have a picnic
2. Workout
3. Go for a walk
4. Volunteer
5. Take photos
   
   
   
   
6. Garden
7. Take on a new DIY project
8. Have a bonfire
9. De-clutter a crowded surface in your home
10. Set up a tent & 'camp out' 
11. Clean your garage out
12. Go for a bike ride
13. Meal plan for the week with cook books and cooking magazines
14. Visit a new playground
15. Create a new song
16. Wash your car
    
    
    
    
    
17. Go to the beach (or a body of water nearby you like a lake or a pond)
18. Browse a bookstore
19. Bake a new dish
20. Go geocaching
21. Have a dance party
22. Visit a dog park with your pooch 
23. Visit a nature center 
24. Do family 'makeovers'.
25. Have a tea party
26. Paint a masterpiece with watercolors
    
    
    
    
    
27. Have a read-a-thon
28. Run through the sprinkler/hose

The Perfected 5 Minute Morning Routine

This post is sponsored by Colgate, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

So, as you all probably have come to realize, I'm a mixture of high maintenance with equal amounts of laid back-ness. I'm a walking contradiction in the best of ways and while that may sound particularly difficult, it also means I've perfected the art of getting ready quickly.



I mean, I'm not bragging, it's basically because I like to sleep so much that I've chosen to find the best ways to make myself presentable quickly, with trial and error mainly. Sometimes I still wear sweatpants out the door and occasionally I forget to dry shampoo my mane... but all in all, I guess you could say I'm a pro at this "getting ready quick thing"! It's taken me nearly 30 years to accomplish this task, but I've done it and I want you to share in the glory - so here's how I get ready in 5 minutes.

So here's the deal, if you like sleep, if you're a procrastinator, or if you just run out of time every single morning as you get ready, here's a few ways you can cut corners in the morning without sacrificing your polished image during the day!

1. Dry Shampoo is your best friend - This is fairly evident for all of us ladies that spend time procrastinating, but dry shampoo is seriously a life saver so it's something I always have to use when I'm running behind! Use as much as you need to add some volume to your, scrunching or running your fingers through your hair as you spray. This literally only takes a minute and changes your look from sleepy to starry-eyed!

2 Brush those teeth - Speaking of seeing stars, I highly recommend scrubbing those pearly whites with the star of my morning routine - the New Colgate Essentials Toothpaste with Charcoal! I mean now that your mane is ready, it is most definitely time to get your breath fresh and clean. This may be my number one piece of advice for anyone (ever), not just those looking for a quick morning routine - We all know going out into the real world with a foul mouth is just not right... so brushing your teeth and using a minty, fresh toothpaste is vital to feeling and looking polished in the AM.

I actually found the New Colgate Essentials Toothpaste with Charcoal recently at Walmart and it's been a love affair ever since. I mean what's not to love about a toothpaste that is different in all the right ways. It really is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and I'm actually planning on stocking up a bit and grabbing another tube with the ibotta offer that's now available! You should snag the offer and head to your local Walmart to grab a tube for your family too!

3. Mascara and lip gloss are all you need from your make up bag - Speaking of tubes, these are the only types of make up you really need to concentrate on when you have literally only have 5 minutes to get ready. It's easy to swipe on some lip gloss to provide a healthy color and sheen to your lips and applying some mascara makes your eyes look more awake and refreshed and it only takes a few seconds!

Honestly, I wish I had figured out how to do a full makeup routine in a few shorts minutes, but I will say I get more compliments on my skin and my freckles when I skip the foundation and powder, so maybe the lack of time and effort is good sometimes? You should give it a try and tell me what you think!



4. Drink at least 8 oz of water - That's right, making sure your hydrated, even in a hurry - is so important. Dehydration can cause SO many issues for your body, so making sure you are supplying yourself with enough H20 is beyond vital - everyday, even when you're running behind take a minute to chug a glass or two!

So tell me, do you have a "quick" morning routine? What does it look like? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Make a Difference with Your Water!

This post is sponsored by Brita, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

As you may or may not know, my word for this year is 'revive', so I'm doing my best to breathe life back into every aspect of my life. From sprucing up our house by changing the furniture all around to switching up our daily routines, I'm all about improving old habits and letting go of those that no longer serve me or those around me.

One way that I've recently started to revive our home (and well, our bigger 'home' a.k.a. mother nature) is making a change for the better with our new Brita pitcher. After hearing the shocking news that 2,000 water bottles are being used every single second, with each one taking 450 years to decompose, they estimate in 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! After hearing startling facts like that, it's easy to come to the conclusion that something needs to change immediately, so that's what we did! As a family, we made a change in how we get our water and we aren't looking back.

With a quick trip to Target we all nixed our plastic-y bottle habit, grabbed a few super cool reusable bottles, and added a Brita Longlast Pitcher into our daily routines. It was an easy choice to make when I realized that our Brita not only helps save the planet, but actually helps provide us with better water than anything we were buying by the bottle.

How so? Well, Brita actually reduces 99% of the lead in tap water, as well as mercury, chlorine, benzene, and more! I can already taste the difference and the best part is, the longlast filters mean we will be able to taste the delightful difference in the water for a long while and we won't have to buy a new filter for around 6 months or so! That means we are able to save some cash each time we hit the grocery store since we no longer have to buy water!

So tell me, are you ready to ditch the plastic and get hydrated with Brita? Get the details here.