A List of Tampa Bay Area Halloween Activities for Kids & A Simple "Cool Cat" Costume Idea

What do we love most about fall?

Halloween? Yeah... well, it's definitely on our list of favorites... but we all really, truly adore the cooler weather and all the fun activities there are to do.

From spending time outdoors to finding craft fairs and haunted houses galore, there's just more fun to be had during fall.

Yesterday we took this cool cat to enjoy the cooler weather at the zoo. They are gearing up for their annual Halloween festivities and we can't wait to see "The Creatures of The Night".

Looking for fun festive fall things to do in the Tampa Bay area? This little kitty and I think you should check these events out... we're hoping to make it to all of these events, they all look absolutely spook-tacular!

We'll start with the aforementioned Creatures of The Night at Lowry Park Zoo. This eerily fun event is running from October 6-28 and is sure to be a good time for everyone! Plus... if you're zoo members, you'll get in free!

Glazer Children's Museum is hosting a Halloween Spree on the night of Halloween. With an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating this super fun museum is a great way to keep the kids safe while still having a blast and showing off their glorious costumes!

Busch Gardens is known for their nightly Halloween fun but did you know during the days Sesame Street Safari of Fun also caters to kids and makes Halloween extra special! This year each weekend in October will be a special celebration! This weekend it'll be Monsters & Fairies, the following week is all about superheroes, etc. With all kinds of fun activities and trick or treating encouraged, I think we know where we'll be spending a little bit of time each weekend... and don't miss the dance parties happening each day of the event at 11am, 2pm, and 3pm!

Guppyween at The Floridia Aquarium is sure to be a howling good time! Kids will be able to trick or treat in a safe setting while also being able to view the exhibits and keep cool at the splash pad! It's only for one weekend, the 28th and 29th... but it'll be a blast!

Looking for something a little more calming to do? Check out this Kids Halloween Yoga Class at The Lotus Pond Yoga Studio!

Interested in finding even more fun things to do with your curious little kitten? Check out this list from 813area.com!

And her "costume" for the day... she was a cool cat! Easy, simple, and adorable! We put her in a cool toned little flowy set from Ricrac and Ruffles and added some kitty ears from Target... and she was ALL set for a day of fun at the zoo! She is most definitely the coolest cat I know so this costume fits her perfectly! LOL

Oh... and did I mention she rode her first "ride" at the Zoo? Yep! She officially is a train rider and she loved it, despite that scaredy-cat-eqsue look on her face.

6 Unexpected Items Every Mom of A Toddler Should Bring to The Beach

I remember the days when heading to the beach meant just putting on my swimsuit and heading out the door with a towel in my hand. Now-a-days, going to the beach practically entails packing an overnight bag.

Today I want to share 6 items you wouldn't normally think to bring to the beach... but their absolute necessities for keeping both you and baby comfortable.

1. Extra pair of your sunglasses just for baby - That's right, I said it, I'm guilty of giving in on this one. I bought D her own pair of my sunglasses for the beach. Why? So I don't have to fight her to keep mine on all the time.

2. A baby sized chair - I guess it probably doesn't surprise you, but D definitely has to have her own chair at the beach now. The independence it offers her she likes and I honestly appreciate not being coated in sand each time she wants to sit for a second. I'm sure other beachin' mamas understand what I mean.

3. Snacks for all - I bring Dannon yogurt drinks for mama and pouches and water for baby. I know others usually think of bringing sandwiches and other snacks like chips and the like to the beach, but we aren't about that life. Neither of us much care for sand in our food so literal sandwiches are a no-go here.

Instead we pack our cooler with sweet smoothie like drinks from Dannon for the adults and delicious little pouches of food and water for D. I opt for Mixed Berry flavors, D usually wants a blueberry pouch... like mother, like daughter.

Why do I chose Yogurt Drinks over other snacks? Not only are they convenient and easy to take with me to the beach (or anywhere for that matter), their also an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D and protein, which contains 9 essential amino acids every body needs. With zero added sugars and 4g of fiber, I know it's a snack that I can gulp down quickly while chasing after this crazy little child with no guilt about breaking my diet.

Wanna try these delicious yogurt snacks from Light & Fit and/or Oikos? Use this Ibotta offer to get a little bit of cash back on your purchase from Walmart!

4. Variety of toys - I know, almost everyone that has kids brings sand castle building toys and a shovel or two to the beach. But this is a little PSA -do not just bring sand toys, a baby gets bored with those rather quickly.

We make sure to bring a variety of goodies for D. From her soccer ball to her favorite dolly, we let her choose what she wants to bring with us that day and it's her special job to look after it at the beach.

5. A Battery Operated Fan - While you can't bring the comfort of air conditioning with you to the beach, you can bring a breeze. Whenever D is with us, we are sure to bring our fan to keep her cool. We love this one because we can spritz her and let her feel like the little princess she is while she soaks up the sun a little.

6. Accessories - The last item on my unexpected list of beach items is certainly one of my favorites... a girl always needs accessories, especially for a day at the beach! We're always sure to bring D a cute bow to match her swimsuit. It may sound silly to you, but these precious photos are some of my favorites so I want to be sure she looks as adorable as she always does.

With that said, what items do you take to the beach with you that you would consider unexpected? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

I'm {THAT} Type of Mom...

I'll be honest, it feels like just yesterday I found out we were expecting Delainey and at the same time, I feel like she's been a part of my life forever.

Parenting is funny like that, one moment it's intense, raw, and emotional like when you're making big decisions for your kids and the next moment you both can sit down and start playing with a simple piece of tissue paper and it's playful, uncomplicated, and so perfect. The days fly by, yet you're counting down the hours until bedtime.

That's the thing, though. I imagined having this little life play a part in mine for 7 years. I dreamed of the day I would hold her little hand, I wished for precious, little chunky cheeks to kiss on, I longed for her and her presence. So it's safe to say I knew what I was getting into when I became a mom, but I really had no idea at the same time.

What do I mean by that?

I mean, I thought I knew everything before she came into the world. I thought I knew the type of mom I would be. I claimed I would never apply harsh chemicals to her skin, I knew I would make her all her baby food, I said she wouldn't watch TV and I planned on solely cloth diapering her. I just knew I would babywear her all the time, so while I was expecting I bought every type of carrier on the market... and well, I made lots of assumptions about how our day to day life would be.

But the reality is, sometimes life doesn't go the way you plan - especially when it involves being the caretaker of a spirited little sweetie like D.

So I'm not that mom.  Delainey has worn sunscreen and she's been exposed to diaper rash cream *gasp*! While I'd love to say I mix up her purees every single day, I don't... because I've learned that's just not me. Instead, she eats organic food from pouches while she watches her favorite TV show.

And if I'm being frank here, she runs around nakie more often than clothed and we use Huggies to keep her bum clean and dry and she pretty much despises being worn in her carriers... because she's my little wild one and she loves to have freedom to explore and learn.

While, it's not the type of mom I thought I would be... it's the type of mom I am and it's the type of mom Delainey needs in her life. Luckily, Delainey seems to like her life without who I thought I would be and she adores me just how I am.

I'm the type of mom that takes off work to go spend time at the beach in the middle of the week (then walks around with a sandy butt, as the evidence shows above😂). I'm the mom that shares bites of all my food so that my kiddo doesn't feel left out. I'm the mom that plays dress up, reads books, and loves to surprise her kiddo. I'm Delainey's mama, the one that soothes the cries, wipes away the tears, and kisses her forehead, the one that snuggles her, and makes her laugh just by looking at her silly. I'm the one blessed enough to answer her when I hear her call out "mama".

Are you a parent? If you are, I'm sure you know the bittersweet nature of it all. While learning the ropes and getting this parenting thing down pat isn't the easiest... I have found a way to easily get our Huggies home thanks to Sam's Club!

I just add a month's supply of diapers and a big ol' box of wipes to my cart & check out! It's that easy to keep her clean, dry, and comfortable and the best *and easiest* part is you'll save $10 on any two items or $18 on any three items just by shopping at Sam's Club!

We're so happy about our savings, we dance sometimes... because again, if you're a parent, you know how expensive it can be to a raise these little blessings!

With that said, I'd love to hear ways you've found to save a penny (or two) while raising your kiddos... or if you're in the new bundle of joy stage like (still) are, I'd love to hear how you plan to save money in the future!

Refresh Your Complexion & Master The Perfect Summer Glow

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.
All opinions are mine alone. #BlueLizardSummer #CollectiveBias

I recently shared a post about 10 things no one tells you about having a baby and one thing I mentioned is how much your skin changes and how I had to alter my skin care routine to help deal with all of those changes. With all the hormones raging through your body to help that little miracle grow, it's no wonder your skin goes on the fritz and starts doing some strange things - it's a bit like adolescence, except you're growing a perfect little tiny human instead of growing up yourself.

With that said, I found that during pregnancy and even now (8 months post-pregnancy), my skin care routine gives me the glow I always longed for. That's right, I'm fairly convinced I've mastered the routine to get the Perfect Summer Glow, even if you have sensitive skin... and lucky for you, I'm sharing it with you today!

1. Exfoliate - To start, you'll want to make sure you scrub your skin well in a bath with a body wash made for sensitive skin and use a poof to make sure you really are able to exfoliate and cleanse the skin.

4 Reasons You Should Add Crown & Ivy to Your Wardrobe

I admit I'm a shopaholic, there's no denying that fact... so today I need to share I'm absolutely head-over-heels with some new pieces I added to my wardrobe. I mean, when you find jeans you just LOVE and tops that are the perfect mixture of cute and cozy, that's when everyone you know needs to hear about it, am I right? If you agree... get ready to fall in love with Crown & Ivy as well! Here's 4 reasons you should add this amazing brand and their cute clothes to your wardrobe today!

4 Reasons You Should Add Crown & Ivy to Your Wardrobe

1. Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants style jeans - That's right, their jeans are unbelievably comfortable and have just enough stretch that my new mama bod looks great in them still. They offer just enough structure that I don't feel like I'm rocking jeggings but they are comfortable enough that I don't even notice I'm wearing pants, the perfect combination for a cozy winter day - in my opinion!

2. Patterns and Design - From open flare backs with fun dancing elephants, like my new top, to playful reindeer on a sweater, Crown & Ivy has a little bit of everything and it's all so cute. I walked around the Crown & Ivy section of Belk and went on a bit of a shopping spree this past week. After having a baby I need some new winter items and fell in love with everything C&I had out on the shelves! Whether you want to add a cute new vest or a funky new scarf, Crown & Ivy likely has the perfect new quirky addition you are looking for and that's why I love this brand so much!

3. Sold at Belk - When I go shopping, I like to go where I'm treated well and the service is attentive and that's exactly what happens every time I step into a Belk. I love that I was able to find the items I needed and the lady that helped check me out was super helpful and friendly and even made sure to apply hand sanitizer before handing me my receipt, she said she was doing it "just in case" but wanted to make sure"to keep my baby healthy" by not exposing her to any extra germs. It may not seem like a major detail, but customer service like that matters BIG TIME to me. I like that at Belk I feel like the employees actually care about the customers, it says a lot about the company!

4. Dressy or Casual -  Crown & Ivy has you covered! This brand offers a little bit of everything, as I mentioned. I loved being able to grab something a bit more sophisticated and sassy like the open back sweater and then I was able to grab a fun and funky, cozy long sleeve tee with a giant pineapple on the back! It's this playful nature to the Crown & Ivy line that keeps drawing me in, yet I'm still able to dress like an adult. 

With all of that said, I think it's easy to see why I'm so in love with the Crown & Ivy line at Belk. Interested in seeing all the other adorableness in the winter 2016 collection? Click here and tell me your favorite item from the line, I'd love to hear all about it... or take a second and stop in to your local Belk sometime soon!

10 Daytona Beach Festivals You Don't Want to Miss! #WeekdayGetaways

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DaytonaBeach.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Living on the Florida coast means that we enjoy mild temperatures, tons of amazing activities, and a pretty fabulous variety of festivals regularly, but one of my favorite places to enjoy all of these aspects of Florida is Daytona Beach. While this lovely little town is on the other side of the state from my amazing home, I'm a pretty big fan of everything it has to offer. From amazing beaches to a ton of fun family activities, I'm pretty much a fool for Daytona Beach. It's the perfect Fall Beach Escape!
 

If you are trying to find a reason to escape to Daytona Beach this fall, look no further... Whether you're looking for a little bit of Warm Holiday Fun or you just want to escape for the day, Daytona Beach is the ideal destination!

That's not all Daytona Beach has to offer though, today I want to share ten fall festivals you won't want to miss - from Daytona-centric occasions to a Craft Beer inspired weekend, there's a little something for everyone! Mark these ten events down on your calendar and I'll see you there:

 

1. Daytonapalooza, Oct. 1: This original music and art festival is a ton of fun! With 150 music acts on 18 stages, 30 artists, and vendors galore this festival on Main Street features everything everyone loves about Daytona!

2. DeLand Bacon & Brew Fest, Oct. 1: This is the only bacon and beer themed event in the area and appeals to your savory senses serving over 14 varieties of bacon! Want to try bacon or beer jam? This festival is for you!

3. Daytona Blues Festival, Oct. 7-9: The line up for this years Blues festival is outta this world? Ready to get down to some funky and fun tunes? Be sure to add the Daytona Blues Fest to your calendar!

4. Symetra Tour Champion, Oct. 10-16: Are you a fan of golf? The Symetra Tour (part of the LPGA championship tour) is an opportunity to see the best of the best female golf professionals in the world!

5. Biketoberfest, Oct. 13-16: If you're a biker or a biker babe this festival is for you! Join nearly 125,000 motorcyclists as they cruise the streets of Daytona Beach! This multi-day, annual event is bound to be worth a little joy ride on your bike!

6. Chili & Craft Beer Festival, Oct. 14-16: Help the community decide which chili is really the best! Vote for your favorite chili from a group of excellent restaurants and elect the next "Best of the Beach" Chili winner!

7. Thin Man Watts Jazz Fest, Oct. 15: If you're into jazz, blues, or gospel, this festival is right up your alley! The festival honors the lives and works of masters like Watts and Sam Rivers. Experience the artistic heritage of these classics and maybe take a moment to find the artist within yourself!

8. Gamble Fall Festival, Oct. 21: With Halloween shortly after this festival, it's one you don't want to miss if you have kids! Join educators for a fun-filled evening of face-painting, star-gazing with a real life telescope, a costume contest, games, hayrides,storytelling, and more! Your little one will have a blast and at only $5 (per person over the age of 3), it's an affordable way to celebrate Halloween!

9. It's a Musical, Oct. 21-23: Catch an energetic performance of one of Broadway's most memorable song and dance productions!

10. Daytona Beach Dream Cruise, Oct. 21-23: Come see some some of your favorite cars and trucks cruise around town! This family friendly event features some of your favorite models along the Halifax River in scenic Riverfront Park.

As if the gorgeous beaches and fun activities aren't enough to convince you to plan your fall escape, these ten festivals will be a ton of fun and make for the perfect excuse to take a little getaway! So tell me, which festival are you putting on your calendar first? Interested in learning more about these Weekday Getaway Deals ? Click here and find out more!

The Perfect Vacation: Our "Baby Moon" at B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale

Thanks to B Ocean Resort for providing the lovely accommodations to facilitate this review, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

I can't even believe it, but it's true... we have just about a month left until Delainey's due date and during our most recent visit to my Doctor we were told if she decides to make her appearance they won't stop labor... That means we will officially take on the title of "parents" any day now! While my hubby and I are super excited about our little girl entering the world soon, we wanted to celebrate us before she decides to grace the world with her presence. We decided we needed to go on a little getaway and cherish our time together before our little darling steals our attention and after some research I found an awesome place for us to stay somewhat close to home.

Whenever I read about B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale, I knew this would be the perfect place to spend our "baby moon". While it's actually under renovations at the moment, we were lucky and our room was in tip-top condition. Actually, while we were checking in on Wednesday afternoon, we were told our room was one of the attendants favorite in the hotel and once we walked into our home-away-from-home we immediately knew why.

With oversized windows, a stunning view of the pool and ocean, super cool modern furniture and decor, and a cozy, oversized bed, B Ocean was exactly the place we wanted to celebrate our last little bit of time being a party of 2.

Your Dog Deserves a Dream Dog Park! #FriendsofBeneful

Thanks to Beneful for sponsoring today's discussion and helping several doggies and communities by building awesome dog parks! #FriendsofBeneful #DreamDogPark

My dogs are my little best friends, I love spoiling them and I'll be honest, being able to take them places is always a treat (for me and them). While I wish they could tag along on my trips to Target to grab them Beneful or my little jaunts over to Tampa for stuff for Delainey, they can't always come with me. That's why it's special when we make the day all about them and take them everywhere with us, like we did yesterday.

We spent a good portion of the day at our favorite dog park, fine tuning their skills with the agility course and having a great time letting them run free-as-can-be through out the entire park. The best part, in my poodle's opinion anyways, was rolling around in the muddy shade in the corner of the park.

That's the thing about our dog park, it's full of stuff for doggies to do and it's just fun to wander around with your pooch too. I know other communities aren't lucky enough to have a dog park like ours so I wanted to let you know that Beneful is doing everything they can to help you get one like ours in your community.

The Beneful Dream Dog Park Project helps further Beneful's mission of celebrating the joyful life dogs and owners share together by supporting dog park improvement and construction projects across the United States. Since 2010, they've helped bring dog park dreams to life in more than a dozen communities! In 2016, Beneful will support at least 12 dog park projects in the U.S. by improving existing parks and helping get new projects off the ground through a mix of financial support, hands-on volunteerism and shared dog park expertise. Interested in finding out more about how they can help you and your dog get a "Dream Dog Park" nearby? Click here to find out more or to help support the cause!

Protect & Improve Your Skin with Receutics

This post was sponsored on behalf of Receutics. All opinions stated are my own.

I talk about the benefits of living in Florida often... I mean with the beach just around the corner, amusement parks galore, and all kinds of other fun activities - it's easy to see why I love it here. One thing I don't normally address is what the Florida sun is capable of; While the sun is, in fact, the sun no matter where you live, it seems to beam a little brighter in these parts. I used to go without sunscreen when I lived in the midwest, spending hours tanning with friends without a burn in sight, but in Florida after a few harsh burns I realized that lifestyle isn't possible here, at least without protecting my skin!

That's where Receutics comes into the picture. My first few years I lived here, when I would go without sunscreen, I did more than a little damage to my skin. While the added freckles are cute, we can all agree the sun spots, weird peeling spots, and blotchy skin isn't so adorable. I'm loving that I finally found Receutics Active Skin Repair Sun Care to help improve the look of my skin, while I'm also protecting it with professional-grade sunscreen - which is what I should've been doing all along... but I guess you live, you learn!

Over the last month or so I've spent a few seconds each day applying a thin layer of Receutics Advanced Sunscreen before I head outdoors, whether I'm heading off to the beach for an all day adventure or just taking my pups for a stroll around the neighborhood I make sure I apply my sunscreen.

I'm glad to say that my small efforts have benefited my skin greatly! I had weird patches of skin peeling near my eyebrows before and the "beginning" stages of wrinkles were starting to show, now I have nothing but clear skin and a couple of freckles and nearly perfect skin for a 27 year old mama-to-be!

Are you looking to up your sunscreen and skincare game? Receutics Advanced Sunscreen shields your skin from the sun's UVA/UVB rays using powerful antioxidants that protect and even your skin tone - something any woman (or man) with aging skin can appreciate! Not only does Receutics make awesome sunscreen, their line of skincare items include Intense Hydration and Repair Treatments, Acne Clearing Systems, and more and it's all available at your local Rite Aid!

If you haven't tried Receutics yet, now is the time... if not now, then when?! Tell me in the comments below about your skincare problems and how you think Receutics can help you repair and renew your skin!

Treat Yourself to a Summertime Fruit Pizza Fresh From Florida!

This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

I talk about this often, but living in Florida certainly has its benefits and as I recently discussed, the fresh produce is one of many reasons I love where I live. We always have the best farmers markets and the produce from the store tastes like it was brought straight to my home by the farmer.

I'll be honest and share, this summer I've been indulging a bit in some delicious pregnancy cravings! I still hate pickles so I won't be sharing any funky pickles and ice cream recipe... and I guess you could say I'm kind of lucky because my cravings mainly involve fresh fruit. It's nice to be able to indulge myself without having to worry about calories or sugar content and because it tastes so refreshing with each and every bite! The best part is it's all grown locally... From watermelon to blueberries, I love that I'm able to snack on some of my favorite fruits while also giving back to this gorgeous state I live in.

If you love Florida and fruit as much as I do, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to try out the recipe I'm sharing today! With just the right amount of sweetness topped with a surprising twist of mint oil and a balsamic vinaigrette reduction, this fruit inspired "pizza" is the most refreshing treat ever! The best part about this super delicious treat... it's actually pretty easy to whip together!

What do you need to make this simple fruit pizza? A Fresh from Florida watermelon with a handful of Fresh from Florida blueberries I added to the recipe just for kicks, as well as deliciously fresh feta cheese, mint, parsley, olive oil, sea salt, balsamic vinaigrette, and Florida Cane Sugar!

You can get the full recipe here but be warned, it's addicting and you'll absolutely be asked to make it again if you plan to share it with anyone else.

So if you're hosting a barbecue soon or maybe even planning a fun little get-together, this simple "fruit pizza" is the best way to keep your guests and yourself happy and feeling refreshed whenever snack time rolls around!

Have you ever made a fruit pizza? Tell me all about your experience but keep in mind, this healthy & simple treat is one you should definitely pin and try later! Plus, ALL of the delicious recipes from the Fresh From Florida website are worth checking out!

Travel Safely & Stylishly with the CYBEX Agis Travel System!

This post was sponsored by CYBEX as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central. I received the CYBEX Agis Travel  System to facilitate my review.

We've had such a busy couple of weeks and I just have to share what's been going on... The last 10 days or so we took a trip back to the midwest to see our family and had the chance to spend so much time with everyone we love!

It was a great visit, full of fun and laughter, a little road trip in between families, and lots of love! We were even spoiled with a cute mermaid shower with childhood friends and our closest family and while we didn't take many pictures during the occasion, it was great to celebrate Delainey and her upcoming arrival.

With all of the traveling and the knowledge that soon Delainey will be arriving, I had a lot on my mind. From discussing the big stuff with my husband like how we plan to parent to thinking about how we are going to travel with her next year, it's all becoming a reality as the weeks until her arrival get shorter! Luckily, with our CYBEX Agis Travel System we won't have to worry about her safety on our next visit to see family.

This stroller carseat combination from CYBEX is made for travel! It makes life so much easier and more convenient, and it's pretty obvious as first time parents we're definitely going to need those benefits! With a one-hand fold up stroller that will hold little Delainey until she's 55lbs and a car seat that's super safe and even certified for airline use, I can be certain our girl will be traveling in style and safety!

Are you looking for a Travel System that fits into your life well? If you plan to go on adventures, by plane, train, or automobile, I'm confident in saying that the CYBEX Agis Travel System from Buy Buy Baby is a great way to be on-the-go with a little one in tow! Find out more about the car seat and stroller combo here.