Four

I am the Mama to a sweet FOUR year old girl.

Our first baby.  Our sweet, sweet girl.. she turned four this month.  Every birthday is so bittersweet.  I love watching her grow.. watching her learn new things.. hit all the little milestones.  Though she will never be a baby again, she will always be my baby girl.

She's learning to write her name.. and actually does pretty well with it for the most part.  She loves to dance and to sing.  She loves to use her imagination and pretend play.  She's a BIG helper with her baby brother, and she is still loving him to pieces.. literally smothering him with love daily.  ;)

Her birthday was low-key this year, but she had so much fun.  We bought her a Power Wheels for her gift.  It's so much fun to watch her drive her stuffed animals and baby dolls around the yard.  "Okay, we have to get out and go into the grocery store now."  she'll say.  

Every day she's learning something new.  And every day I strive to be the best role model I can be for her.  Love you, my sweet girl.  I hope year five doesn't sneak up on us too fast.

A Perfect Summer Drink: Palm Breeze

Thank you Palm Breeze for sponsoring this post. Palm Breeze sparkling alcohol spritz takes any girls' get together and turns it into a vacation!

Every year I get so anxious for summer.  Sometimes I'm not quite sure why, as it currently feels like 104 degrees here... but I think I just crave the sunshine.  It helps me function, it puts me in a better mood.. there's nothing like some good Vitamin D

And there's nothing like some good Vitamin D with a nice cold drink in your hand.  A nice, cold adult drink.

I love getting together with my girlfriends... talking, hanging out, eating some good food, and enjoying some good drinks.  And these Palm Breeze sparkling alcohol spritz are fabulous and come in two different tropical flavors... Ruby Red Citrus & Pineapple Mandarin Orange... Perfect for this 104 degree weather.  Also, I'm not afraid to admit that I like the girly frou-frou drinks.  It's true.

The other weekend I purchase the Palm Breeze in the Ruby Red Citrus flavor - SO good!  It tastes like sparkling grapefruit.  It was refreshing and delicious.. perfect for sipping on while sitting out by a pool and catching some sunshine!  Honestly, it tasted like a citrus soda.. adult style.  I love how light and bubbly it was.

Not to mention, how FUN that it's pink?!  Love it.  Sometimes it's the little things..

For your next get-together with your best gal pals, I highly suggest you pick up a case of Palm Breeze.  Or even for your next BBQ/cook-out.. it pairs perfectly with pretty much any summer meal. If you decide to try out the Pineapple Mandarin Orange flavor, let me know how awesome it is in the comments below!  :)

You can check out Palm Breeze and give them some love on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

#BestSummerEver with Banana Boat

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Banana Boat^®. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Here in Arkansas, summer is in full swing.  And when I say full swing, I mean for the past week the heat index has been 105 F with heat advisories.  The humidity here is seriously out of this world.  Some day I will live in a place where I get four seasons again!  But for now, this is what I'm stuck with.  Hot or "cold".  And when the summer sun is so strong, it's important to protect your biggest organ - your skin!  Clara loves being outside, and her skin is so delicate.. I want the best protection for her.   Not only her, but my sweet husband works out in this ridiculous weather every day.  We do so much outside, we use Banana Boat Sunscreen like it's going out of style.

And with Clara and Sam watching our every move, leading by example as role models provides a great foundation for responsible sun protection.  Kicking off the summer festivities, the Banana Boat Best Summer Ever "Great Big Family Reunion" offers summer fun in the sun adventures for the whole family.

SunComfort Clear UltraMist Sunscreen:  This is perfect for every day use.  It allows sand to easily brush off - perfect for the beach or even if you've got a sandbox for the kids in the back yard!  Clara loves her sandbox.  It also moisturizes to relieve dryness caused by sun, salt water, and chlorine. 

Sport Performance Lotion Sunscreen with PowerStay Technology:  This was specifically designed for all you active and sporty people.  This lotion is light-weight as well as sweat-resistant and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.  It's quick-absorbing and it won't run into your eyes.  This lotion is perfect for my husband, who works hard outdoors!

Dry Oil Clear UltraMist Sunscreen:  This mist now includes argan oil which helps to leave the skin moisturized and silky-smooth.  It's a light-weight formula and delivers easy coverage and is non-greasy.  Perfect for my skin!

And as a friendly reminder.. be sure to apply roughly two tablespoons of sunscreen to your entire body about 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or after swimming/excessive sweating.

I really liked all three of these sunscreens, there's something for everyone and every different need.  And I know that mine and my family's skin is being protected from the harsh rays of the sun.  We tried out these different formulas while I had some family visiting and we were all smashed into the kiddie pool like sardines - hey, what else are you going to do when it's 105 degrees outside and you have a 3 month old that needs to stay in the house?  :)

Banana Boat Great Big Family Reunion offers summer fun in the sun adventures for the whole family, and visitors can enter a sweepstakes that offers the chance for one lucky family to win a reunion for up to 50 of their family members and friends.  Participants can also spin the Wheel of Fun for exciting activities to entertain their families all summer long @ Great Big Family Reunion Website!

Find Banana Boat at their website, Facebook, and twitter.  Also at the Great Big Family Reunion Website!  #bestsummerever

Banana Boat “Great Big Family Reunion” Sweepstakes

A Must-Have with Children: Waterwipes {review}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for WaterWipes. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Three months ago my sweet Sam was born.  I can hardly believe it's been that long already, but he's starting the fun stage... where he's smiling at everything, cooing, and started to giggle a little bit.  Before he was born, I started searching for the best of the best for him... lotions, soaps, diaper cream, diapers, and wipes.

Wipes are such an essential part of having a child.  I literally use them for everything.. diaper changes, dirty faces, sticky hands.  I have a stash of them everywhere.. the car, diaper bag, every room in the house.  And when I'm using wipes on such delicate skin, I want to be sure it's something that's not going to irritate them and will be gentle enough.  When I found out about these WaterWipes they sell at Babies "R" Us, I needed to try them out right away.

And here's what I found out about these WaterWipes:  They're a European brand!  They're chemical free and only contain TWO ingredients.  99.9% pure Irish water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract.  To me, the ingredient list can't get much better than that.  These are definitely a safer, more natural option for little ones.  Using these I found that they are really durable and do a great job at cleaning up my little Sam.  Unlike other wipes, WaterWipes are not interfolded - which allows them to keep their sterile environment.  They should be used within 1 month of opening - definitely not a problem when I have two kids that I use these on a daily basis!

And good news!  WaterWipes is making it's in-store debut at top Babies "R" Us stores across the country from May-July.  Grab them while they're on sale 2 packs for $6 - they're regular $3.99!

My uses for these include pretty much everything.. cleaning hands and faces in the car, at restaurants, and on the go... wiping down faces and highchairs, etc, after eating... cleaning off sand when playing in the sandbox or at the beach.. or any type of kiddie mess!  My daughter, who is 4, still prefers to use  wet wipes when she goes potty - much easier for her to use than regular toilet paper for her - so these WaterWipes are perfect for her to use.

If you go out and grab a package or two (which I recommend!), let me know in the comments what you think of it!  I would love to hear other Mama's opinions!

You can check out WaterWipes on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

WaterWipes Babies "R" Us Promotion!

Homemade Pupusas #PANFan

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal.  I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.  #PANFan

I love having fun in the kitchen trying out recipes I've never made before.  I don't get too much time to do that anymore, having a 3 month old that's fussy time is between 5pm and 6pm... however, I'll jump at the chance when I can!  So when I received P.A.N. Cornmeal to use, I had to sit down and brainstorm what I wanted to create with this!  This time I decided to make homemade Pupusas - it's a pretty simple process, and I hope this post inspires you to get in the kitchen and create something new for your family!

P.A.N. Cornmeal is the numero uno cornmeal in South America - and for good reason!  It has such good flavor and is easy to work with.  It's been around for a long time, but is just recently making it's way into kitchens in the USA.  Cornmeal is a staple in many countries, though, because of it's rich nutrients and versatility.  It's definitely become a staple in my home.

Pupusas are fairly simple to make.  They're a traditional Salvadoran dish - a thick corn tortilla stuffed with either refried beans, cheese, or seasoned pork that's been ground into a paste consistency.  I chose cheese, because who doesn't love things that are stuffed with cheese?  And you top them off with lots of yummy things... salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, more cheese (of course), and you can even put some shredded chicken on top of it.  If it has all of the above ingredients.. it's got my name on it.  Seriously, LOVE this kind of food!

Homemade Pupusas

• 2 cups P.A.N. Cornmeal
• 1 1/2 cups water (add a couple tablespoons more if it seems too dry)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup Mexican blend of cheese
• Oil
• Toppings of your choice (salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, cheese, shredded chicken, etc)

Mix together the P.A.N. Cornmeal, water, and salt in a bowl to make a dough.  Divide the mixture into 6 balls and then flatten each one into a 3 inch disk.  Place 1 tbsp of shredded cheese in the middle of the disk and fold the edges into the middle to close the cheese in.  Flatten the disk, covering the cheese and form 1/4 in. thick disks, about 6 inches across.  Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet.  Add 2-3 pupas at a time and cook each side for 4-5 minutes.  Top them off and serve immediately.

*After they are done cooking in the skillet, I keep them warm in the oven set to the lowest temperature until I'm done cooking all the pupusas.

You can visit P.A.N. at their Tumblr page.  Let me know in the comments if you try this dish at home!

Six Years & Counting..

Six years ago I married the love of my life.  Six!  I can hardly believe it.  I feel like just yesterday I was 20 years old and making the "big move" out of my hometown in Illinois down to Virginia to be with him.  And now here we are.. two kids, two states, and a foreign country later.. so many adventures we've had.. and so many to come.

June 1st was our anniversary, but since my husband was out of town on a trip for work we didn't celebrate until this past weekend.  Clara spent some time at her Nana & PawPaw's house and little man came with us since he's a breastfeeding machine.  He slept the whole time anyway.. except for when I fed him.. and he poo'd on me.  Yes, yes he poo'd on the front of my shirt while I was feeding him.... 

Anyway, what better way to celebrate than with food and some shopping?  We ate at BJ's Brewhouse, one of our favorite places.  We eat there any chance we can, haha.

My husband loves it for the ribs, pizza, and of course the beer.  Me?  Give me alllllll the pizookie's.  The pizookie is the only reason I even eat dinner.  I mean, seriously.  I need to learn how to make these at home.  Particularly the cookies & cream one.  Or maybe I don't.. that would be bad.

It was a wonderful, quiet, delicious dinner.  I pretty much had to roll myself out of the restaurant.  But there's no one else I'd rather stuff my face with.. six years, and many many more to come... :)