Category: Family

I’ve got 25 Family Packs to give away to see ROCKDOG! HURRY!!!

I’m so excited about a new movie called ROCKDOG that is hitting the theaters on February 24th.  Connor and I are getting a sneak peek of the movie on February 18th in Dallas and would love for you to join us.  You can view the trailer HERE.

Location:

AMC NorthPark 15
8687 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75225
888-262-4386

Date & Time:

2/18/2017
11:00 AM

This link is limited to 25 admit-four “family pack” passes. These passes are first-come, first-served and do not guarantee seating. Please arrive early, especially since there will be special airbrush artists at the theater before the movie!

GET YOUR FREE MOVIE PASSES HERE!

Game Day Ready With Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP®

This post is sponsored by ShopHer Media.  All opinions are my own.

Y’all this week has literally been POPPIN‘!  I’m talking about popcorn, one of my greatest loves.  I snack on it all the time and it’s a staple in our household.  One of my favorite companies called Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP makes the most delicious popcorn.  My personal favorite is the White Cheddar flavor.  I’ve literally had two bags this week….and do I feel bad about that?  No, not really because at 60 calories per cup I don’t feel as guilty for indulging in one of my favorite foods!

Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP comes in so many different flavors there is a popcorn for everyone in your family.  With flavors like Real Butter, Cheddar Cheese, Sea Salt, Lightly Sweet, Sweet & Salty Kettle, White Cheddar, Caramel Cheddar Mix, Salted Caramel, Sweet Barbeque, & Sweet & Spicy you can have a different snack for every day of the week!

The Superbowl is right around the corner, and Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP is the perfect Game Day snack!  No cooking required.  Just POP the bag and serve your guests.  Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP popcorn and kettle corn is made with real, simple ingredients—nothing fake and is packed with 100% whole grain. Many of their products are non-gmo and gluten-free.

I have a special money-saving offer below for all of YOU to stock up on Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP! 

(while supplies last)


Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP is running the “Game On! Bring the Boom” sweepstakes to help you throw an amazing big game party. Now through May 15, 2017 you can enter for a chance to win at www.boomchickapop.com , and on the Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP facebook page

Prizes include Game Day party supplies, tailgate sets, a TV & sound system, Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP popcorn and kettle corn and more!

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are the age of majority in their state of residence or older at the time of entry. Void where prohibited. Begins at 12:00:01 a.m. CST on 12/20/2016, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. CDT on 5/15/2017. Multiple entry deadlines apply. Total ARV of all prizes is $18,750.69. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received for a corresponding drawing. Subject to full Official Rules available at www.boomchickapop.com with complete details including entry deadlines. Sponsor: Angie’s Artisan Treats, LLC, 1918 Lookout Dr., North Mankato, MN 56003.

Let’s Rewind Now Shall WE???….Christmas 2016

You know how they say time get’s away from you?  Well, it truly does.  I have yet to recap Christmas and I would normally be way past that point.  All I have to say for myself is this has been a busy season in life.  You know…you think once those kiddos get in school you’ll get a “break”, nope, not really.  It’s actually a lot more to do!

Anyway, I’m glad to hop back on the blog bandwagon and let’s play catch up shall we?  I won’t go into anything political on my blog because y’all I just can’t handle it anymore and the one thing I DO KNOW is God’s got this!

Queue lots of pictures ahead and a bunch of fun recaps over the last month that I’ve been lagging on.  We are loving our new home and being in it for Christmas was wonderful!  Terence likes newer homes, but I have to say I am really enjoying all the “quirks” this house has to offer, we love our neighborhood, and we are right where we want to be.

Christmas Family Photo 2016

The Branch Family 2016- Yes those are all our nieces and nephews and they are the sweetest and cutest evah!

Connor and I headed to Arkansas for Christmas break just the two of us.  Terence stayed behind due to work and we missed him, but we were back in time to celebrate Christmas day together.  We had fun visiting with my family in Arkansas and my twin sister Bonnie.  Jarrett and Connor always have the best time.  We drove a Mazda CX-9 to Arkansas and the trip in that car was AMAZING!  That’s my next car y’all…I have already decided this.

Here we are jammed in the car with all our Christmas aftermath.  I found some great deals on furniture at Restoration Hardware, and thanks to the extra room in the Mazda CX-9 I was able to bring a beautiful bench and some bar stools home 🙂

Isn’t she pretty?  We literally went home to Razorback nation in a Razorback red SUV and we loved it!

Plenty of storage in the back for all the presents.  This car was such a dream for our trip home for the holidays.

Connor is always complaining about the sun being in his eyes.  There were built-in sun visors in the back seat and they were literally a lifesaver for him and myself because there was less whining! LOL!

One thing I know I can’t live without in my next car is a backup camera.  I don’t have one in my car now…but I feel so much safer having that feature in a car.  Also, the heads up display is one of my favorite features.  It shows the speed limit on your windshield.  

Thank you Mazda for a wonderful RED Merry Christmas in this beautiful CX-9 it truly was a dream to drive and a great family car!

We celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the farm.  It wouldn’t be Christmas in my heart unless I was here to celebrate with all the people I love.  Isn’t it so pretty?

My Mom and Nannie outdid themselves and now I’m currently trying to work off all the food I ate over the holidays.  I miiiiigggghhhtttt have had one too many eggnog lattes as well…oops!

Nannie’s tree

The stockings were all hung with care…

The boys are reunited at last.  These two are Minecraft crazy right now.  I don’t really understand Minecraft, but they sure are into it! 

Bonnie and I had the great pleasure of meeting Tracy, she’s one of the very first friends I made blogging and we’ve been friends ever since.  It’s so funny because she was in Texas and now she’s back in Arkansas and lives close to my sister.  This lady is a JOY JOY JOY down in my heart and it was so wonderful to finally get to visit with her.

Me and Bon getting our Starbucks fix 🙂

Connor and Nannie Sue enjoying lunch

Downtown Conway at the Christmas tree

The boys playing….what else….MINECRAFT!!!

The boys just love their POPPY.  I wonder if they are related to Santa???

Nannie got us all matching shirts that said “I really really like love ______”  And filled them in with something we all loved.  Mine was blogging.

The boys opening their stockings on Christmas day

Road tripping with my best buddy.  He’s a great kiddo to take a trip with 🙂

Prancer and Dancer…ahem…I mean Becky & Bonnie

Our Christmas Mantle

Our Christmas tree…can you spot all the coffee ornaments???

BRANCH FAMILY CHRISTMAS

We also had a great family Christmas with Terence’s family.  We celebrated the birth of Jesus with a birthday cake and told the story of how Jesus came into the world.  We had a yummy dinner and a delicious ham courtesy of Petit Jean Meats.  MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PLACE TO GET HOLIDAY MEAT!!!  It’s sooooo good!

Petit Jean Meats also has some great Dallas Cowboys Party Packs if you are planning on watching the Super Bowl!

CHEERS TO A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS IN 2017!!!

XO- Becky

Staying Well in the Season of Sickness #SickJustGotReal

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Nothing is worse than when you have a sick child.  Am I right?  Especially when that child has the dreaded “stomach bug“.  I can just about handle anything but throw up!  Right before we went on Christmas vacation Connor had a bad stomach bug and he woke Terence and I up in the middle of the night screaming.  He tried to make it to the bathroom, but unfortunately didn’t get there in time…and wouldn’t you know it the ONE TIME that the toilet lid isn’t up is when he threw up all over it!  Boys….seriously???

We try to get through it the best we can as parents.  I’m so thankful for modern-day medicine and that we can give our children the best treatment possible. Pfizer pediatric products are my go to when we have a sick kiddo in the house.  They are my tried and true remedies for colds and fevers.

The pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there with three solutions – Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle the ickiest of symptoms.

Flavor is everything too to Connor.  If it doesn’t taste good, he isn’t swallowing it. My child has the worst gag reflex and will spit up just about everything.

FEVER:  Children’s Advil® comes in several great-tasting flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors.  Connor actually enjoys taking the medicine because it tastes so good!  Ha ha!

Other great products:

COUGH:  Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief to control and relieve symptoms all-day or all- night. Available in grape or orange flavor, for children ages 4 and up. Please note, certain Children’s Robitussin® products are only suitable for children ages 6 and up.

COLD & COUGH:Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free eases your child’s stuffy and runny nose, while quieting a bothersome cough. All in a great-tasting grape flavor that’s dye-free, for children ages 6 and up.

*It is important to remember to always read and keep the cartons for complete warnings and dosing information on Pfizer Pediatric products and to use as directed.

If you have a friend who has a sick child send over a care package.  I found this cute little Valentine’s mailbox at Target for $3.  Pack it with your favorite cold remedies, some tissues, and a stuffed animal 🙂  Also, make sure you wash your hands frequently.  Connor puts his hands on everything and rolls around the floor…I have no idea why, but kids are kids and they do some nasty stuff!   I know as a Mom when your child is sick at times you feel helpless, especially when EVERYONE in the house gets sick too.  A care package is a great way to show someone you care about them.

Check out the Sick just got real.™ website & Facebook page for some great tips on how to stay well this season.

Finding the Best Breast Pump + Enter to WIN!

This giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal, with a prize of a gift certificate

Memory lane…time is a thief.  I love reminiscing about when Connor was a baby and I sometimes think about another baby.  I dunno…think is the key word.  I’m no spring chicken anymore!

I was working full time when Connor was a baby and only had a couple of months maternity leave.  I enjoyed every second!  I remember coming home from the hospital and trying to breastfeed and it was one of the hardest thing I’ve been through.

I decided early on to strictly pump…and I kept that up for the next 14 months.  I absolutely loved breastfeeding and pumping was a lifesaver to me, especially as a full-time working mom.  It’s so important to find the best breastfeeding pump.

I honestly don’t know what I would have done without my breast pump.

This was what I carried with me every day:

By the time I went back to work I had a good amount of milk built up.  It took a couple of months for it to fully come in, but if you can just stick with it for the first month I PROMISE you’ll get over the hump!

It was worth every single second and I am so thankful I was able to give Connor the best I could. 🙂  I’m not here to knock you if you can’t breastfeed, because I know a lot of Mom’s can’t.  This is my personal experience and one that I treasure.  I also miss the calorie burn that breastfeeding gave me too! LOL!

You can read more about my story HERE.

ENTER TO WIN $50 GIFT CARD TO DIAPERS.COM

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Gift of JOY: With Hasbro Joy For All

This post was sponsored by Hasbro’s Joy For All brand  as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

This is truly my favorite time of year.  I remember as a little girl waiting anxiously Christmas Eve night for the next morning to come.  I would eventually nod off from the excitement & thrill of the day.  As I’ve grown older it’s less about the presents and more about being with family & watching the joy in my own child’s eyes.

I want to tell you about a special person in our lives, Terence’s Grandma.  She’s the sweetest person.  I’ve had the joy of knowing her over the past 15 years and now that she’s in an assisted living home, it’s our turn to take care of her.  You see, it doesn’t have to be something big to make someone’s day.  Just a hug, phone call, or a visit makes all the difference.  The truth is that we can’t be there all the time and unfortunately a lot of people are left alone when they get older without any family or visitors at all….this breaks my heart.

Hasbro has come out with a great new “toy” for seniors called Joy For All.  I let Connor babysit the cat (we named her Chloe) & the dog (we named him Max) until he could give them to his Great-Grandma.  He absolutely LOVED them!  They are so realistic it’s CRAZY!  Hasbro has always been a great toy brand, and now they are striving to bring happiness to our beloved Grandmas and grandpa’s.

We went to visit Great-Grandma last weekend and brought her Chloe and Max.  She just adored them.  I can tell they are going to be well-loved at their new home.

HASBRO’S JOY FOR ALL™ Companion Pets have a unique two-way interaction that can help bring fun, joy, and companionship to our aging loved ones.  Joy For All Companion Pets can be powered off, on, and can also be muted at night.  They respond to built in sensors from motion and touch.  Batteries are also included so you can give it to your loved one right away!

The Joy for All Pup was Connor’s favorite because he is really wanting a dog this Christmas.  The Pup barks and turns his head when you talk to him.  He opens and closes his eyes.  Also, when you place your hand on his back you can feel a calming heartbeat.  It’s the most realistic dog…without the maintenance I have ever seen!

The Joy for All Cat is so adorable.  It’s fluffy fur is so soft and cuddly.  The cat purrs and meows.  It will even open and close its eyes too 🙂

We are so thankful for our new furry friends.  Grandma’s nursing home is going to use them for all the residents as a therapy tool.  I’m sure they will all love Max and Chloe just as much as we did.

Head to JoyForAll.com to purchase your very own JOY FOR ALL COMPANION PET today and use JOY2016 for 10% off your purchase!

Here is a sweet video of Great-Grandma and Chloe.  You can see how much she really loved her.  Instead of giving Grandma a robe or a pair of slippers this year….give her the gift of companionship.  Hasbro’s Joy For All is truly the best gift ever if you have someone living in a home.

Follow Joy For All on Instagram & Twitter for the latest!

Here is Grandma a week later…her nurse sent us a wonderful picture of her visiting
with the Joy for All Pup.  Seems like she is enjoying it so very much!

Christmas Gift Picks 2016

I adore this silhouette of Connor from Miss Thistle Shop. It’s a great gift for Grandparents or yourself 🙂 She does an amazing job!

Y’all I adore these Tecova’s boots and they are handmade here in Austin, TX.  For a handmade boot they are AMAZING quality and go with literally everything.  I get so many compliments on them whenever I wear them.

This Michael Kors Moss Convertable Tote is 40% off right now and is everything I love in a bag.  I cannot tell you how long I’ve been looking for this EXACT color!

I got one of these blankets last year at the Nordstrom sale and it’s one of my favorite items.  It’s Mama’s warm fuzzy blanket.  I take it with me EVERYWHERE!

A lot of people ask what kind of camera I use.  I shoot with a Nikon D750 FX-format Digital SLR Camera Body.  If there is one thing I would tell everyone to invest in, it’s a great camera.

I found this confetti pouch from Packed Party last weekend while shopping with my friend Ellen.  I love it and it’s just a really cute travel item to stick in your bag.

These bracelets from Premier Designs are some of my favorite pieces and throughout the day I find myself looking at them as a reminder.  No matter what you need to hear.

This Kikkerland Selfie Light is awesome!  The light is super bright and if you are ever out at night you know how frustrating taking pictures can be.

These 2-in-1 Mini Fan for iPhone/iPad and Android – Pink, Blue & Green – 3-Pack Bundle are the perfect stocking stuffer.  If you are like me and always a hot sweaty mess, this is the perfect item to keep in your purse on a hot day or during a hot flash.

I saw these cuties at Christmas in Cowtown this year.  They are called Warmies, I got Connor the Intelex Cozy Microwaveable Plush, Puppy and are soooooo soft. You warm them in the microwave for a few minutes before bed and they smell soothing and he loves to sleep with it.

 

So that’s my short but sweet list of Christmas picks for 2016.  What have you found that is super cool and fabulous this year?  I’m always down for checking out new stuff!

xo Becky