Wearing Your Popsicle

Today we gave the phrase 'wearing your popsicle' a whole new meaning...Usually with a one and two year old you can bet that when they are done eating their popsicle, they are wearing it, but today we did things a little differently...
Since it's All Things Popsicle Week I thought we'd break out the latest popsicle threads for the littles. Sienna is going through her 'I don't want anything in my hair' phase, but Daniel was a good sport and rocked the popsicle bow tie we made. While browsing through H&M the other day we found an adorable popsicle and ice cream dress! It will be the perfect summer dress to wear to any outing in this Florida heat. 

Stay tuned tomorrow because we have some frozen treats to share as All Things Popsicle Week comes to an end...
Sienna's dress is from H&M and she is wearing Salt Water Sandals in gold. Daniel's shoes and shorts with suspenders are from H&M and his Gingham button-down is from Gap Kids. Click here to view the bow tie tutorial.

DIY Hair Bow or Bow Tie Tutorial

Hey there! While doing some shopping at the local fabric store the other day I came across this adorable popsicle fabric and I had to have it! So I thought how could I not make a cute little bow with it since we are celebrating All Things Popsicle Week?These bows are so incredibly easy to make and what's great about them is they can be used either as a bow tie for a little boy or a hair bow for a little girl! In my case I will be doing both!

Here's what you'll need:

1. I used a piece of fabric cut into an 8 x 6 rectangle for the bow tie and 6 x 4 for the bow. You can experiment to see which size works best for you. Then fold in the pieces of fabric as seen in the first image below.

2. Then fold the other ends in so they meet again. (The scissors are just holding them down so I could snap the picture)

3. After it has been folded go ahead and turn it over and pinch down the center of the bow. 

4. Then sew the middle with a needle and thread a couple of times through all of the layers.

5. After the bow is secured you'll want to cut a small piece of fabric to use as the loop for the bow. Again, see what size works best for you by testing it around the bow.

6. Once you have the apprpriate size go ahead and sew it shut in a circular form. Make sure there is enough room to pull the bow through. It isn't pictured, but you will want to flatten out one side of the bow and pull it through the ring. 

7. Next stick you hair clip or bowtie clip in and you can use a little fabric glue to keep it in place. 

8. All done! 

Wasn't that easy? I am in love! You will definitely be seeing my kiddos in some cute little hair bows and bow ties. 

All Things Popsicle Week!

clockwise from the top:
fruity pop // coin purse // iphone case // popsicle tee // necklace

Hello everyone!! I hope you had a long and relaxing holiday weekend! Even though summer technically hasn't started, it sure feels like it's already July around here! It always seems like Memorial Day is the perfect time to kick off summer in this Florida heat. And what better way to cool off than with an ice cold popsicle? We LOVE popsicles in this house and it seems like lately I have been seeing popsicle swag everywhere. So I thought it would only be fitting to declare this week All Things Popsicle Week! I'll be posting popsicle-themed recipes, diy tutorials, and even popsicle fashion trends.  Above are some cute popsicle goodies I found already. It seems like Kate Spade is really making their mark lately with these icy pops...Enjoy!

Are You Wearing Your Mommy Shorts?

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Last week I came across an article called 21 Acts of Parental Brilliance that was a little life-changing for me. Then this week while perusing through Babble's Instagram feed, I came across a mom blog called Mommy Shorts! At this point it all came full circle...The article was written by Ilana from Mommy Shorts! She is also the mommy behind the new trend called Baby Mugging, where you take a picture of your baby while they are lying down, and the mug is close to the camera so it looks like the baby is actually in the mug :) Genius!
Well Ilana's blog is genius and HILARIOUS! I literally laugh at loud with every post I read and am so happy I found Mommy Shorts-it was love at first laugh :)
So while reading her blog I cam across a hilarious video from a series by Matthew Clarke where they enact a conversation with a two year old, only the two year old is being played by a grown man! I couldn't stop laughing and if you have a two year old at home this video will surely give you a good chuckle or two after a long day with them. 

Ha! I can completely relate since from time to time Sienna calls me "Mommy Princess." 

Two really is the cutest age to listen and laugh :)

Mommy & Me Time

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Giving birth to Daniel was one of the most bittersweet times in my life. It was and is truly a blessing to have such an amazing little boy brought into my life, but the beginning of life with les deux was a difficult time because I was forced to give up the alone time spent with my little Sienna. I chose to nurse Daniel as I had done with Sienna which was wonderful, but the downside to that was that I had to be the one to give Daniel most of his primary care. Danny definitely took control and helped with Sienna and now their father-daughter bond is stronger than ever and needless to say, Daniel is attached to my hip :)

This past week Sienna and I were fortunate to have not one, but two mommy and me dates. This was the first time since Daniel was born where we actually were able to go and do something fun, just the two of us. Of course we occasionally will get to run an errand together or we have our weekly baby ballerina class, but this was quality time spent together.

First Thursday morning, we went to see the new Madagascar Live show at Busch Gardens which was a great time! Then on Sunday I took her to see our first Disney on Ice show which was absolutely magical. I am so grateful to have my two beautiful babies, but this past week made me realize how important it is to spend some quality one on one time with each child.

Love you baby girl!

    

Madagascar Live: Operation Vacation

  Sienna and I were singing and dancing all morning while we attended a preview for the new Madagascar Live: Operation Vacation show at Busch Gardens in the newly renovated Stanleyville Theater! As a Tampa native, Busch Gardens has always been my playground growing up and I couldn't be more excited to spend time there with the kiddos. My family has annual passes so to say that we frequent the park is an understatement.     Before the show started we enjoyed some breakfast...  

  and waited to hang out with Alex, Gloria, and friends...  

   then lights...camera...action!  

 

  The show was spectactular! It was full of energy with singing, dancing, and even a live band!! It kept us moving the whole time.  

 

  Of course a Madagascar Live show couldn't be complete without the hit song from the movie, I Like to Move It!  

 And bubbles poured down over the crowd as we said goodbye...

  Until next time Madagascar friends! We now have a new stop on our weekly Busch Gardens trip!   The show starts this weekend, May 18th, at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL! They are having special events going on all weekend including shows with animal expert, Jack Hanna! Click here for more information on Madagascar Live!   Thank you Busch Gardens for hosting a great event!                        *We were not compensated by Busch Gardens to write this feature*

Best Week Ever!!!

This week has been soo amazing in soo many ways!! Let me start out by saying that Monday was my birthday and I turned the big 2-8!! This year was actually a freebie for me because I kept thinking all year that I was twenty-eight when I clearly wasn't...ha! (mom brain) But anywho, those who know me know that my birthday is usually a week long celebration and this year was none the less!

We started it off celebrating my birthday at an intimate dinner with good friends at the new Cooper's Hawk Winery. There's nothing better than great friends, great food, and great wine all jam packed into one night :)

Then on Wednesday morning we had an amazing opportunity to be featured on Fox 13's Good Day Tampa Bay to do a Mother's Day gift segment! Since I am a Tampa native it was truly an honor to be part of such a respected morning show! And what a great time we had doing the segment! 

Click here to view the clip! 

(Best if you watch from a computer and not a mobile device)

As if the day couldn't have gotten any better, Danny topped it as he accepted a job offer with a wonderful new company!! Needless to say, Wednesday was a day full of celebration. 

Now if we can rewind a little bit I have been dancing in my head (and in real life) all week because I will be attending my first blog conference next week and it's called ALT SUMMIT!!!! (in Oprah's screaming voice) haha!

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Well, I won't actually be going to an Alt Summit blog conference, but they have created their first completely-online conference called Alt For Everyone <----yes that includes me!! This is absolutely perfect because I'm not in any shape to leave the kiddos behind just yet so virtual sounds fantastic! And to top it off one of my fav blogger Joy Cho will be the keynote speaker so I can only imagine how informative this experience will be!!

And now we are finishing off this fabulous week celebrating why we do what we do everyday! For our babies of course! I love my babies and am incredibly blessed to live the life I live with them.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Daniel's First Birthday Mustache Bash!

Last month we celebrated Daniel's first birthday! To celebrate we threw a little man, mustache bash at a local waterfront park!! 

Of course I went over the top with my dessert table...We had cake, cupcakes, s'more pops (which by the way are the most amazing thing that has every crossed my mouth), and we couldn't forget the little man cigars...

Yes...they are chocolate covered pretzel rods in these fabulous cigar boxes

 my mother-in-law found for me :)

Here is my little man in his outfit :)

and my little lady in her romper...

We even Macgyvered a photo booth in the shelter...

Thanks to Aunt Kelly & Shane and the rest of the fam, everything was executed wonderfully!

This is my favorite picture of Sienna helping Daniel blow out his candle...

He was not a big fan of his smash cupcake...

Here are some fun shots my bestie's dad, Felix, took of me, my besties, and their babies...

And of course we had to attempt a family shot in our photo booth...

 ha! That's as good as it gets :)


Cake was from the lovely Michelle & printables were from Sour Punch Studio