July 2014 |

“I Have Failed as a Mother!”

July 31, 2014

It’s starting to become very apparent to me how much Connor is actually soaking in. For instance, Terence and I watch the morning news while we get ready for work in the mornings. Which is a tornado in itself. Connor is usually in our room too and I’m sure he’s been seeing all the news about the planes going down and stuff like that (let’s not even get started on the Ebola virus…which is scaring the **** out of me!!! Maybe I should just ban myself from watching the news? But it’s good to be in the know right? Whatevs.

So, Terence was on a business trip earlier this week and Connor saw a plane on the news and said “Did my Daddy die in an airplane?” WTH-eck? “Of course not!” “Why would you think that?”

Seriously that scared me and I was just thinking how in the world he would have picked that up!

Then earlier this week he told me “Mom I really miss my church friends and I want to go back to Sunday school”. Queue the MOM FAIL. We’ve had visitors from out-of-town every weekend for the last month and are too lazy to get our bums out of bed and go to church. But he’s noticing and that hurts my heart. That’s like God saying “BAM! You need a reality check Becky.”

In the words of Beverly Goldberg (My favorite TV Mom)

“I have failed as a MOTHER!”

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a perfect person and definitely not a perfect wife or mom. I fail a TON.

First and foremost I want my family to feel loved and like they are my top priority. I hope they know this. It’s crazy how life gets in the way and all of a sudden you forget the little things that seep in the cracks.

Other thoughts:

Sure, I’d like to lose 30 lbs. But am I willing to give up my mean chocolate habit? Uhm…………..Occasionally.

I haven’t had that “Aha” moment and I’m certainly not going to go on a cleanse or post pictures of myself half-naked on Instagram showing how fit I am or how much weight I’ve lost. Although I am proud of these women…dang it makes me feel like poo.

Seriously how do these people exercise a bazillion hours a day and do everything else that needs to get done? Their stories are inspiring….but I want to read about something OTHER than before and after pics and how many calories they’ve burned that day. Gah. (That’s just myself saying boo on me) Guilty as charged.

Because frankly, after 8+ hours of work I just want to sit on my sofa & watch The Mindy Project and drink a glass of wine.

Also, the outfit posts. Oh the fashion blogging storm….mercy. I like fashion just like the next chick. I love to shop. But how in the WORLD do people post different outfits every.single.day and I’m sitting here wearing the same pants 3 days in a row? I love the outfits, I like the fashion inspirational posts…..but again….I want to read more than what brand of jeans you are wearing that day. And about your $3,000 shoes. Like, what is actually in your noggin?

I’m going on a little rant here that I didn’t intend to…..

I’m feeling out loud and probably over-sharing too much….blah….blah….blah. But I want to read about YOUR lives….as I know you want to read about mine. (Yes I have the occasional review post because I’m NOT made of $$$ and it doesn’t grow on trees and as long as it’s something I would enjoy doing…they why not!) DON’T JUDGE. And I don’t want to forget why I started blogging in the first place. To read about every day challenges and have that support system.

And someone to honestly tell me what it’s like and smack me over the head and say “Get it together!”

I’m not saying to stop what you’re doing. Just show more of yourself. Being honest, raw, and not being ashamed of what you have to say is something in itself.

Love you peeps. Thanks for listening and have a happy Thursday!

“Orange you glad it’s Thursday?”

Twinkie Tiramisu #TwinkieCookBook #MC

July 25, 2014

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on
behalf of Twinkies. I received samples and a promotional item to thank me for
participating.”

Twinkies are BACK and in a big way! I was devastated when I heard the news that Twinkies were going to disappear a while ago and I’m so excited they are back on the shelves. I’ve had Twinkies my entire life, they were a part of my childhood. There is something nostalgic and magical about a Twinkie. They perfect combo of short bread and cream stuffing….please never leave my life again Twinkies!

To welcome the comeback of Twinkies there’s going to be a Twinkies Cookbook. I know right? I mean this is going to be the most awesome cookbook EVER!

If you would like to submit a recipe to the Twinkie Cookbook go HERE before July 31st.

I decided to whip up a little Twinkie treat in my kitchen and you know what this “Java Mama” loves??? ESPRESSO!

So I decided to make a “Twinkie Tiramisu” and OMG y’all it is so good you have to make this. It’s super easy and guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

Let me walk you through how to make a Twinkie Tiramisu:

Above are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe.

You will need 14 Twinkies total for the tiramisu.

This is like building a casserole. Layer the Twinkie halves, drizzle on espresso, spread mascarpone/whipped cream mixture, layer another 7 Twinkie halves, drizzle espresso, and then spread the remainder of the cream mixture over top. Then dust with cocoa powder.

Ingredients:

14 Twinkies
Cocoa powder (for dusting)

Directions:

Slice Twinkies in half long ways, straight through the cream filling. Set aside.

Espresso Syrup Ingredients:

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup brewed espresso coffee, cooled

1/4 cup Italian Brandy (optional)

Directions:

Combine water and sugar in small saucepan. Bring to a simmer to dissolve sugar, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, let cool and add in coffee (and the optional brandy). Set aside.

Mascarpone Filling Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pound mascarpone cheese, softened at room temperature

Directions:

Whip cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold in softened mascarpone cheese until well blended. Set aside.

Assembly Instructions:

Place a layer of 7 Twinkies (14 halves) into the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish or cake pan. Drizzle with half the espresso syrup. Spread half the mascarpone filling over this layer. Repeat with remaining 7 Twinkies, syrup and filling. Smooth top with spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Remove wrap and sprinkle with cocoa powder just before serving.

Doesn’t this just look soooooooo GOOD!

I’m so excited Twinkies are back and I hope you’ll consider submitting your recipe to the Twinkie Cook Book too. I can’t wait to read a copy myself.

Follow along with the latest on Twinkies and Hostess Snacks on Facebook & Twitter

Not the Money Pit — Revamping the House on a Budget

July 22, 2014

Home décor doesn’t come cheap, but there comes a time when you simply have to do something to make your home beautiful once again! Instead of breaking the budget (or making your credit card cringe away to the back of your purse) why not try out some or all of the following cheap and cheerful ways to brighten up your décor?

Light it up

Most rooms in the home benefit from having more than one source of light, so investing in a pair of table lamps could make all the difference to your living room. Position your new lamps carefully, so as to throw pools of light where they’re needed, banishing shadows and opening out the whole room. Simply changing the shades on existing table lamps can also have a great impact on your décor, but do be aware that darker shades will swallow up some of the light, whereas lighter ones will brighten up the room.

Comfort with cushions

Interior designers love cushions, no matter if they’re working in luxurious mansions or small two bedroom cottages and there’s good reason for this: cushions are fantastic! They inject that much-needed pop of color to any room, they infuse the décor with comfort and can help to properly finish off any décor scheme. They’re also very handy if you need a quick nap during the day!

Reflect on mirrors

Mirrors aren’t just for checking your appearance before leaving the house, they can work for your décor in a number of ways. First of all, mirrors reflect light around the room and can effortlessly brighten up a dull corner. Secondly, they create the illusion of space in your home. As the room is effectively doubled in the mirror, you can make even small and poorly proportioned rooms look spacious and attractive.

Blessing of the windows

Your window treatments — be it curtains, blinds or opaque vinyls — are the décor equivalent of the room’s clothing, so make sure that they fit well with your intended décor look. Long, floor-length curtains (which should start from high up the wall, near the ceiling) give a room gravitas and elegance, while shorter curtains are more practical and are ideal for children’s bedrooms and the kitchen.

Walk around your home and look for “easy fixes” such as those mentioned above. You might not be able to redo the whole house (or want to!), but you’ll be delighted at how simply you can minimize or improve a lot of the problem areas, leaving behind a comfortable and attractive home for you and your family.

Discover Boating This Summer

July 22, 2014

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Discover Boating. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

We are in the middle of summer in Texas and you betcha it’s HOT outside folks! So, what do we do to cool down? We head to the water!

My husband’s best friend, Kyle, has a pretty awesome boat and we’ve had some fun times on it throughout the years.

Terence and Kyle have always loved the lake and waterskiing. Kyle even does tricks and is a very talented water skier.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Terence and Kyle on the boat:

I’m not really a skier myself, but I love to go tubing and things like that. By reading up at Discover Boating we’ve found activities that would be fun for our whole family.

I liked this chart below to help you discover if boating is right for you and your family & ease into the decision to own a boat:

Through Discover Boating we’ve found lots of ideas for things we can do this summer. After a long work week it’s nice to escape to the lake and just relax. Discover Boating has great resources and educational tools for boaters of all levels!

Especially if you haven’t had a chance to get your feet wet this summer:

Big Name Boater, Jake Owen: Learn more about country star Jake face, the thrill of catching a fish, or seeing the smiles on your kids’ faces as they go tubing.

Happy boating this summer friends!

Keep up with all the latest Discover Boating summer fun on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

So, Terence was on a business trip earlier this week and Connor saw a plane on the news and said “Did my Daddy die in an airplane?” WTH-eck? “Of course not!” “Why would you think that?”

Seriously that scared me and I was just thinking how in the world he would have picked that up!

In the words of Beverly Goldberg (My favorite TV Mom)

“I have failed as a MOTHER!”

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a perfect person and definitely not a perfect wife or mom. I fail a TON.

First and foremost I want my family to feel loved and like they are my top priority. I hope they know this. It’s crazy how life gets in the way and all of a sudden you forget the little things that seep in the cracks.

Other thoughts:

Sure, I’d like to lose 30 lbs. But am I willing to give up my mean chocolate habit? Uhm…………..Occasionally.

I haven’t had that “Aha” moment and I’m certainly not going to go on a cleanse or post pictures of myself half-naked on Instagram showing how fit I am or how much weight I’ve lost. Although I am proud of these women…dang it makes me feel like poo.

Because frankly, after 8+ hours of work I just want to sit on my sofa & watch The Mindy Project and drink a glass of wine.

I’m going on a little rant here that I didn’t intend to…..

And someone to honestly tell me what it’s like and smack me over the head and say “Get it together!”

I’m not saying to stop what you’re doing. Just show more of yourself. Being honest, raw, and not being ashamed of what you have to say is something in itself.

Love you peeps. Thanks for listening and have a happy Thursday!

1. I like wearing

Black. I love black. And I love cardigans. They are so forgiving and comfy. I have lots of cardigans. I’m ready for fall so I can pull those out again.

I posted this on Instagram the other day of me at work:

It’s the shirt that Pinterest-Told-Me-To always talk about HERE. The shirt is super comfy and on sale right now. It’s SO soft! I also got a new Kendra Scott necklace on serious sale! It’s so nice to live 5 minutes away from a Nordstrom 🙂 Notice a theme here? Black.

2. My most memorable style was Oh gosh. I remember wearing overalls in high school and some how those suckers are making their way back into the fashion world. I’ve also seen at least 3 people wearing fanny packs lately. Dear Lord…..no fanny packs!!!

Notice my college ID: OVERALLS!

3. I dress to impress by

Putting on a little more makeup than normal. A bold red lipstick or a smoky eye. Wear something with sparkles 😉

4. The best style tip I ever received Dress your size. Don’t try to squeeze your butt into a size 4 if you are really a size 8. It only makes you look worse and no one is ever going to see the tag! REALLY?

5. Three wardrobe staples in my closet

Jeans, cardigans, and Niki Biki tank tops

6. Three words that describe my style Timeless, comfortable, and soft

Now it’s your turn. Answer these prompts in a post on your own blog and join the link up! Come back next Wednesday for another round of Finish This where we’ll answer the prompts below!

Prompts for WEEK 31 (August 6) are: If I went back to school, I would study My favorite subject in school I wish I had paid more attention The dumbest thing I did in high school was In high school, I thought I knew

We kicked off the weekend Friday night by going to see a movie and dinner. Then Saturday we woke up, drove thru Starbucks (of course) and then headed to the Kendra Scott boutique.

We both came out empty-handed. Everything in there is so pretty! It’s pricey, but pretty! It was fun to look around and see all the jewels and the new line that just came out.

After Kendra Scott we at lunch at Taco Diner. It was delicious! I ordered nachos and a “mango” water to drink and it was SOOOOO good!

Of course no meal is complete without dessert. We walked across the street to the Sprinkles ice cream bar. If you’ve never been you are missing something incredible in life. Their flavors are so good and different from a normal ice cream place.

2. My most memorable style was
Oh gosh. I remember wearing overalls in high school and some how those suckers are making their way back into the fashion world. I’ve also seen at least 3 people wearing fanny packs lately. Dear Lord…..no fanny packs!!!

4. The best style tip I ever received
Dress your size. Don’t try to squeeze your butt into a size 4 if you are really a size 8. It only makes you look worse and no one is ever going to see the tag! REALLY?

6. Three words that describe my style
Timeless, comfortable, and soft

Prompts for WEEK 31 (August 6) are:
If I went back to school, I would study
My favorite subject in school
I wish I had paid more attention
The dumbest thing I did in high school was
In high school, I thought I knew