Celebrate Mother's Day with Mother-Daughter Spring Fashions from Lands' End!

Thank you to Lands' End for providing spring mother-daughter fashions for this Mother's Day fashion feature.  All opinions expressed are my own.

When our boys were little, I used to dress them alike and they also had fun father-son t-shirts they'd wear when they went out with my husband.  With my daughter, however, we never had identical clothing.  We've owned similar shoes, coordinating necklaces, and I did purchase a large monogrammed canvas tote from Lands' End and a smaller version of the same thing for my daughter.  Other than those few things, it seemed like our tastes never matched up enough to wear anything identical.  That's why I love these pieces we found from the Lands' End spring collection!

Yellow seems to be a prevalent color this season in fashion.  I'm seeing it everywhere and just had to include a bit of sunny yellow in both our outfits.  My 7 year old daughter is wearing the Lands' End Girls' Short Sleeve A-line Dress in Chesapeake Blue Washed Floral over the Knit Cropped Leggings in Yellow Cream paired with the Dark Chambray Dot Girls' Gatas A-line Shoes.  I am wearing the Short Sleeve Lightweight Supima Jersey Scoopneck Tunic in Lemon Shine with the Chesapeake Blue Floral Washed Floral Scarf.

The tunic I am wearing is super-soft and is cut to hide figure flaws.  It is generously sized and I think I could have ordered one size smaller.  I will definitely be ordering additional colors because they would be my go-to tops to pair with leggings or skinny jeans when I want to be stylish while I'm out and about, but comfortable at the same time.  The Washed Floral Scarf was soft and light, perfect for a spring day.  And, I'm not the only one who thought so . . .

The a-line dress was knee-length on my daughter, so she could have worn it with or without the leggings.  There are hidden side pockets along the seam, which my daughter just loved.  She doesn't own many dresses with pockets built in.  The polka dotted shoes add a bit of whimsy to the outfit by mixing patterns.  When I invited my daughter to try my scarf on as a wrap, she gleefully obliged and then spent an hour dancing around and twirling with it.

We will definitely be wearing these pieces on Mother's Day this year.  These turned out to be the perfect mother-daughter outfits because they coordinate, but still suit each of our personal tastes.  Now, do you think I'll have a fight on my hands as to who will be wearing the scarf that day?

You can shop for these and other Lands' End fashions for the whole family at www.landsend.com or in the Lands' End Shop inside your local Sears store.

My Photos: Mother's Day Memories

I know Mother's Day was nearly a full week ago, but I am just getting around to sharing my photos now.  The one below was taken with my Nokia Lumia 920 Windows phone and the rest with my D-SLR.  Sometimes I am amazed at the quality of the photos taken with my phone.  When the light is just right, the photos really do come out wonderfully.  I only wish it had a macro setting.

It seems like every year on Mother's Day, I subject the children to a mini photo shoot.  It's a great way for us to see how much they have changed over the coarse of one year.  As always, I am floored at how much each child has grown and blossomed, but more so this year with our daughter.  She is only 6 years old, but seems like she's heading full speed ahead towards becoming a tween.  She needs to slow down.  I don't think I'm ready for it and I know my husband is not.

This is our 6 year old son.  Thankfully, he enjoys being a child and is in no hurry to grow up.  He is quite the charmer though.  Somehow he's learned to turn on that sweet smile along with a little twinkle in his eyes especially for the ladies.  He's definitely going to be a heartbreaker.

Here is our 9 year old son who is the cool big brother.  He is at that special age where he can go back and forth between being a little kid and young man.  On Mother's Day, I could not believe I had been a mom for almost a decade.  Where did the time go?

One more photo of our princess . . .

This year on Mother's Day, I was really overwhelmed with the lengths the children went through with handmade gifts and cards.  The one below was made by our 6 year old son in his art class.  It's a mama bird watching over her eggs in a nest.

The necklace below was made for me by our 6 year old daughter.  I actually have a similar one made by her big brother when he was in kindergarten.  I wore it to Mother's Day dinner at my sister's house Sunday evening.

Along with an elegant ring containing 3 Garnets (my children's birthstones), I also received poems, handmade books, cards, and drawings.  These are all going in my keepsake box and I will cherish them forever!

What was your favorite memory about Mother's Day this year?

Click here to view all my past favorite photos.

Can't Figure Out How Your Children Grew Up So Quickly? . . . Relive Those Precious Moments Through Photos

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

This photo was taken on Mother's Day 2010!  Our twins were just 3 years old then and their big brother only 6.  Can you believe how much they have changed over the past 3 years?  It is actually extremely easy for me to remember what our children were like when they were first born.  It's everything between then and now that's a bit of a blur.  When people warned my husband and I that time flies by too quickly when you have children and that they would be grown up before we knew it, they were right.  Luckily, I take lots of photos.  By "lots", I mean boatloads.  In fact, I take so many photos that some people think I'm crazy.  Well, I have many more precious photos, like the one I've shared with you today, to help me remember all those blurry moments.  I'll never regret taking the extra time to capture as many of the big and small moments in our children's lives as possible.

If you take as many photos as I do, then you understand where I'm coming from.  If you don't . . . well, it's never too late to start!

No matter how old your children are, there are still new memories made daily.  There will be to come many more Mother's Days and Father's Days, proms nights, graduation days, wedding days, and everything wonderful that happens in between.  This Spring, Best Buy can help you get on the right track to capturing as many special moments as possible.  As much as I love the camera on my Nokia Lumia 920, I still bring out my D-SLR camera when I'm taking photos at home and during special occasions . . . basically whenever I want my photos to be outstanding and not just very good.  Best Buy has a vast selection of D-SLRs, compact cameras with long zoom, Wi-fi cameras, point-and-shoot cameras, and camcorders with the latest technology to fit all budgets.  They also carry digital photo frames ranging from 7" to 10" LCD screens.

7 reasons to shop Best Buy and BestBuy.com for your digital imaging needs this Spring . . . 

• There is currently Free Shipping on all cameras at BestBuy.com.
• Best Buy has a low price guarantee.
• You can bring in your old camera to Best Buy and trade it in for a Best Buy gift card.
• Save an additional 25% off select digital photo frames through June 22nd with promo code.
• You can get a free 8x8 Shutterfly Photo Book with a purchase of a qualifying camera or camcorder.
• Select point-and-shoot cameras come with a free camera bag or a free camera bag plus memory card.
• If you need something quickly, you can purchase online and pickup in-stock items at your local store.

As always, if you shop, be sure to come back and tell me all about what you purchased!

10 Tips for an Easy Low-Stress Family Breakfast (#FinishRiseandShine)

Thank you to Finish for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a gift card so we could purchase supplies and ingredients for our #FinishRiseandShine breakfast.  All opinions expressed are my own.

With Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up, you may be aspiring to surprise your spouse or your parent with a family breakfast.  If the idea of preparing a big breakfast by yourself (or with your children for that matter) seems daunting to you, then you must read on to see how easy it was for us to make this tasty family breakfast for the Finish Rise and Shine Challenge.  Simply following one or more of these tips will make your meal preparations that much easier.

Tip #1:  If you are planning on serving bacon as part of your family breakfast, make it the day before and store it tightly covered in the fridge.  I usually line a cookie sheet with tin foil and bake the bacon in a single layer. The next morning, you can just reheat it quickly in the microwave.

Tip #2:  Choose one easy recipe to make in the morning.  Checkout my recipe for Easy Bacon & Scallion Cornbread.  If you have prepared the bacon ahead of time, the prep time for this cornbread is less than 10 minutes and it will bake while you prepare the rest of the meal.

Tip #3:  Serve microwavable breakfast sausages.  If you have bacon waiting to be reheated, just cook the sausages in the microwave for 1 minute less than called for.  Then add the bacon to the plate and microwave for an additional minute.

Tip #4:  Choose one or two beverages that everyone in your family enjoys.  My husband had coffee, but our 3 children and I had hot cocoa.  It was easy to make with just a little hot water.  We usually only give the children half a mugful because they can never finish a whole one.  I highly recommend that you try your hot cocoa with a dollop of vanilla ice cream in it.

Tip #5:  Use dollar size microwavable pancakes.  They are quick to heat up and you won't be required to cut pancakes for each child.

Tip #6:  Just so you are not feeling too guilty about all the grease and salt, fill a bowl with fresh fruit.  We served large strawberries, but grapes or blueberries would work well also.

Tip #7:  Fill your plate with some of everything in case your family eats all the food before you even get to sit down at the table.

Tip #8:  Remember to take a photo of your family enjoying this meal you've prepared to preserve the memory.  Also, there is no need for them to know how easy it was for you to put this breakfast together, so you can show them the photo in the future to remind them about how much you slaved over a hot stove for them.

Tip #9:  Leave the breakfast dishes for later and go enjoy time with your family.

Tip #10:  Before you go to bed, load all the dishes into your dishwasher, so you can let it run overnight.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

What made this last step possible for me is the Finish Quantum Power Gel.  To be honest, when I agreed to take the Finish Rise and Shine Challenge to leave our breakfast dishes until bedtime, I was extremely skeptical.  Our dishwasher is old and I always rinse off the dishes before I load them.  My regular detergent is actually the bottled Finish Gel.  It works pretty well, but there are some things it will not get out, such as dried hot cocoa, lipstick on stoneware, and sometimes dried melted cheese.  I had very strong doubts that this little Finish Quantum packet I popped into the detergent well would get out the dried cornbread mix, the dried syrup that nearly fused our stacked plates together, and especially the dried hot cocoa inside the mugs.

Can I tell you how floored I was the next morning?  Everything came off the dishes . . . even my arch nemesis, the hot cocoa.  Not only that, my dishes actually shined!  All I could think about was how much time and water I could save from now on just by using the new Finish Quantum.

What is your arch nemesis when it comes to getting your dishes clean in the dishwasher?  I'd love to know what it is and if you are able to get it clean without rinsing and only using the Finish Quantum Power Gel.  Get your FREE sample of Finish Quantum (1 per household), take the #FinishRiseandShine Challenge, and share your results on the Finish Dishwashing Facebook page.

Help Mom Steal Some Relaxing Moments with the DOLE Fruit Crisp Cozy Kit

Thank you to DOLE for providing a complimentary Cozy Kit for us to base this review upon and for providing a second Cozy Kit for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

DOLE is a long time leader in producing commercial, canned fruits and I think most people are familiar with the company. They use only the best fruits in their products so you can be assured they will taste great and be healthy too. Their new Fruit Crisp line adds more to their great products to give you even more ways to eat healthy. DOLE sent me a “Cozy Kit”, which included an infinity scarf, a pair of comfy socks, an apple-scented candle, and, of course, three packages of DOLE Fruit Crisp to try out in honor of Mother's Day.

DOLE Fruit Crisp are delicious and highly satisfying pre-packaged bowls of fruit in natural fruit sauce that come with a topping of oats and brown sugar to give it some crunch, fiber, and extra flavor. They come in three varieties: apple cinnamon, apple pear, and peach. All three are made with all-natural fruit, whole grain oats, and are rich in vitamin C which is a natural immune system booster. They can be eaten straight out of the cabinet or fridge, or heated up in the microwave for a warm and tasty treat.

Recently we have overhauled our eating habits and DOLE Fruit Crisp have become a staple in my house to satisfy my sweet tooth. I like eating them warm and it truly makes me feel like I’ve had dessert, but only for 160 calories. They truly are delicious, the fruit tastes fresh and ripe, and the crunchy oats definitely give it the extra flavor to make them feel like more than another bowl of fruit. My personal favorite is the apple cinnamon, but I like the other two flavors a lot as well.

If you're putting together a care package for your favorite mom this Mother's Day, consider including Dole Fruit Crisp cups in her favorite flavor in place of less healthy treats.  DOLE Fruit Crisp can be purchased at most grocery stores nationwide. To learn more about them, visit www.dole.com.

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My Photos: Flower Macros

It's been quite a long time since I've tried to take macros of anything.  When I received a fresh flower bouquet from my husband and children for Mother's Day, I thought that was the perfect time to take a few.  I always want to take photos of fresh flowers so that I can preserve their beauty before they begin to wilt.  These flowers are still looking great a whole week later though.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Click here to view all my past favorite photos.

Freshwater Pearl Pendant w/Gold Chain for Mother's Day

Pearl Paradise offers beautiful and unique freshwater pearls in various colors and in several different settings. They offered me a gorgeous Lavender Pearl Pendant to review, and I was thrilled to get it.

This "Mini Collection" pendant features a small freshwater pearl that is lavender in color and is on a “mini” setting with a pendant cap and set on a Forzatina white gold cable chain. It is very delicate, but utterly stunning, and can be worn alone or layered with other jewelry. The pearl itself is a round pearl, which is very rare, and is an AAA quality pearl with high luster.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

I truly love this necklace. It came with papers of authenticity, which just added to its glamour for me. The pictures on their website do not do it justice, and neither do mine. It is very small and stylish, but truly a gorgeous look for any woman to wear. It would look great in many occasion and styles of dress and would be a wonderful addition to any jewelry-lover's collection. I know I am happy to have it and love wearing it.

You can see this pendant and all the other freshwater pearl jewelry that Pearl Paradise has to offer on their website, www.pearlparadise.com.

Thank you to Pearl Paradise for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.



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Macy's Thank-A-Mom Movement Fights Violence Against Women

Violent crimes against women are a sensitive subject for most women because it is likely that they have known at least one woman who has been a victim of violence either inside or outside the home.  As part of the Macy's Thank-A-Mom Movement, you can prompt a $3 donation to Futures Without Violence just by sending a Mother's Day card via the Thank-A-Mom Facebook app to a mom on Facebook or by email.  There are 9 designs to choose from and you can send cards to up to 15 mothers in your life.  That's a total of $45 that Macy's is willing to donate on your behalf to this worthy cause.

When our first son was just an infant, the three of us lived in an apartment building in a quiet suburban neighborhood.  One night we heard a lot of yelling and the sound of furniture banging around from the apartment downstairs.  While we were sleeping we heard more of the same and then we heard a woman yelling for help.  We called 911 even though we knew there was a possibility that the offender would find out it was us who reported it.  I was worried that I was home alone with our infant son all day and this man could show up at our door.  Still, I knew we did the right thing because I could only imagine how helpless and scared that woman was to be screaming for help, hoping that someone would hear her.

Watch this video about a man recalling how he watched his father hit his mother when he was a boy, how he ran to the neighbor's house for help, how the neighbor thought it was none of his concern, and how the neighbors never even asked him if he or his mother was okay after that day.  The children who witness such violence must feel just as helpless as the victims themselves.



Futures Without Violence is just one of five worthy causes the Macy's Thank-A-Mom Movement is supporting this Mother's Day.  To learn more about all five charities, visit Macy's on Facebook.

Thank you to M80 for contacting me on behalf of Macy's, who is providing a Jones New York Pashmina for our contest prize and is sending another Pashmina to me as a thank you for participating in this campaign.



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Silly Monkey Stories: All About My Mom (The Unauthorized Biography)

Last Friday, I received an early Mother's Day gift from our 7 year old son.  Every year at school, his teachers always come up with something special for the children to make to give to their moms for Mother's Day.  Last year, I received this handmade necklace.  This year, my son made me a book, where he filled in the blanks with details about me along with his own illustrations.


Here are a few highlights from the book (with translations underneath) . . . 

Translation:  "All About My Mom" by Jake


This is my mom.  She has brown eyes and brown hair.  Her favorite thing to wear is a tank top and underwear.

Translation:  My mom's favorite T.V. show is Top Model.  Her favorite movie is The Smurfs.


I love my mom because she is a nice person.

Do you think he threw that last page in so I would feel guilty the next time I'm yelling at him to clean up his toys?

Click here to learn how to participate in Silly Monkey Stories.

Click here to read all my Silly Monkey Stories!

If you have a Silly Monkey Story to share, sign Mr. Linky below with the link to your blog post (not the link to your main blog page). Please do not forget to visit the other participants and leave them comments to let them know you stopped by!