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Moms Just Wanna...Get a Break | 24 hours in Lido Key, FL

Friday, May 25, 2018

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We all know that being a mom isn't easy.  I had been feeling really overwhelmed lately and needed a break in the worst way.  My sweet husband watched our girls and I headed to Lido Key, Florida with a couple of girlfriends.  We were only gone for twenty-four hours and it was just what we needed.


Even with a storm strolling in, we had a blast and you couldn't beat the view we had.  Shout out to Holiday Inn for accommodating us to a Gulf view room and delicious snacks.  The hotel is gorgeous and the perfect location for heading to the beach or walking over to St. Armands Circle for shopping, restaurants and spas.  Our room had that coastal feel that you want when vacationing on the water and we couldn't get over the chairs in the lobby.


 There are so many incredible restaurants in St. Armands Circle that it was hard to decide where to go.  We stumbled upon The Terrace at Surf Shack and ended up staying there all night.  They had live music which was extremely entertaining and the food was delicious.  They have a large taco menu and we all tried different ones.  I had the Key West Cuban Scallops and Bangin Shrimp tacos.  Sooo good!  And of course, in true pregnancy fashion, I ended the night with turtle ice cream from Kilwans.  Yum!


I love that we didn't have to drive far to feel like we actually got time away from our kids.  I came back home feeling refreshed and recharged.  We stayed out late without the consequence of having to get up early.  It was nice to sleep in, drink my coffee hot and take a walk along the beach. 

This would also be the perfect spot for a romantic getaway and I definitely plan to go back with my husband.

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Thing to do Tampa Bay | AR Workshop- ST. Pete

Thursday, May 24, 2018

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If you haven't head of AR Workshop in St. Pete, you are missing out.  It is the cutest boutique workshop and the perfect combination of power tools and DIY creativity.

I had the opportunity to visit AR Workshop for a blog event in January (I know that was 4 months ago #pregnantlife #momlife) and had an absolute blast! 


The space is gorgeous and it's such a fun set-up, including a drink bar!  I had been wanting something for our kitchen and found/made the perfect piece.  AR Workshop allows you to choose what you would like to create and even have custom options.  The possibilities are endless and I love that it's DIY.  It was much easier than I thought it would be and so much fun.

You can host a private event at their location or choose from one of their many classes.  This would be perfect for a girl's night out or a date night with your significant other!  It's would even be a great idea to pass the time with all the rain we are going to get this weekend.


They even hold classes for kids and my girls had a blast attending over Valentine's.  It was easy enough for even my 2 year old and held her attention the entire time.  This is something we will definitely be back to do together.

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Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers using the Freshest Ingredients from Florida

Friday, April 20, 2018

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This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, however, all opinions expressed are my own. 

Who says tacos are just for Tuesdays?  Tacos are perfect for any day of the week in my opinion, especially when you replace the shell with a bell pepper!  I'm always looking for healthy recipes and ways to incorporate fresh and local ingredients into our week night meals that my entire family will love.  As a mom of two toddlers and two on the way, that is very important to me.  I mean, if you're a mom then you know how picky toddlers and kids can be.  Am I right?


We tried our hand at Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers with (non-spicy) Corn Salsa and it did not disappoint.  I absolutely love that 90% of our dinner was made from the freshest ingredients, Fresh from Florida.  It makes me feel really good that I am able to give my family healthy options that don't have to be boring or bland and are full of color.  The brighter the colors, the more likely my two little girls are to eat it; that and of course, anything with corn.  Ha!  

The best part is I can find all of this wonderful local produce at my nearest Publix.  It's nice that I don't have to go far to find and get fresh, local ingredients for my meals grown right here in Florida.
 

Now, onto the good stuff....the recipe!  These Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers are so easy to make, especially when you are a mom of toddlers and/or just looking for a quick week night meal.  It's little prep and the end result is fresh and delicious!  The Florida bell peppers, tomatoes, corn and red onion come together so well and will leave your taste buds singing.  There really is something special and flavorful about ingredients that are not processed and Florida farmers make it easy for everyone to eat fresh produce year-round.

I omitted the hot sauce in the corn salsa so my girls could eat it, but added it in on my plate.  You could even add fresh minced jalapenos for an extra kick!

  
Be sure to #followthefresh and try it for yourself!

You can find the original the original recipes here:


Taco Stuffed Florida Bell Peppers
Florida Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salsa

You can find other delicious recipes from Fresh from Florida here featuring Florida fruits and vegetables and to watch easy how-to videos for quick and healthy recipes.  Be sure to follow Fresh from Florida on social media as well.
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest

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Fresh from Florida | Shopping Locally Grown

Sunday, March 11, 2018

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This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, however all opinions expressed are my own. 

I have lived in Florida for almost eight years now and this is by far my favorite time of the year.  I moved here from Texas and truly had no idea how much is grown locally and I've been buying locally grown ever since.  The weather is wonderful this time of the year and all of Florida's produce is fresh and in-season; from the strawberries to the bell peppers to the tomatoes and mushrooms.  My mouth is watering just thinking of all the delicious things I can make with those fresh ingredients. 



My girls love this time of the year too and especially love when we get to go strawberry picking.  I love that when we can't make it to the strawberry fields, that I can just head over to my local Publix grocery store and find quality produce Fresh from Florida just by looking for the signs.

I love shopping locally because I know what I'm getting and I know where it's coming from-Florida farmers of course!  Being a mom of two toddlers, this is very important to me and Florida farmers make it easy for this to happen all year long.


Did you know that by shopping local produce, you are not only getting the best but you are helping our local community and farmers?  These strawberries are from Plant City, FL just north of where I live!

I really encourage you all to #followthefresh too and shop locally grown!   You can click here to go to Fresh from Florida's website and find so many ideas and recipes using Florida's fresh ingredients!  I can't wait to share one of my favorite recipes with you soon!

 If you are a meal planner like I am, then you'll love this chart from Fresh from Florida letting you know exactly what's in season and when it's in season.

You can also find Fresh from Florida on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , Pinterest and even their Recipe Page where you can get updated on Florida Agriculture, including delicious and healthy recipes. 

Now, if you need me, I'm off to shop Fresh from Florida!



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2017 Recap and 2018 Goals

Friday, January 12, 2018

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It's crazy to think we are almost through the first half of January.  I'm not sure how that happened, but it did and here I am finally posting about my major events in 2017, top 2017 blog posts and my goals for 2018.  Better late than never, right?

 First, I want to say thank you to everyone who supported me in 2017 and who continues to support my blog.  I love when you can relate to something I've written or when something I write is helpful.  Thank you again for sticking around and reading, commenting and following me and my family! 
 

Top 10 2017 Blog Posts:

 #10 Emma Grace's Birth Story

 # 9  It's Date Night! with Kona Grill

 #8   How My Miscarriage Made Me A Better Mom

 #7   A Magical Unicorn Birthday Party   

 #6   How I Save at Publix + Creamy Alfredo Garlic Chicken Pizza

 #5   Coffee is My Love Language + Our Coffee Bar

 #4   Beach Bag Essentials | Toddler Edition

 #3   Baby Shower Brunch {On A Budget}

 #2   The Perfect Snack for Holiday Gatherings

 #1   Excuse the Mess, I have Toddlers | 3 Tips for a Tidy Home with Toddlers (most viewed for 2017)

 Big Life Events in 2017

 I made friends!  Ha! This may sound silly, but I was still new to my MOPs group and made some really incredible friends throughout the year.

 My oldest was on the cover of the 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival Guide! This will be so much fun to go back and show her one day.



My husband and I celebrated our 5 year "date-iversary" and one year of marriage.  We even celebrated my 30th birthday in Washington, D.C.. And followed that trip with a New Kids on the Block concert!

 We went to Disney on Ice...twice! Blogging brought a lot fun things to do in 2017 and I am so thankful.  This also included Sesame Street and Marvel Universe Live!


 We traveled! Three trips to Texas, one to Kentucky, one to Washington, D.C.  One of those trips, was my first kid-free trip to Dallas with a good friend.  

 My Abuela visited us for a month and it was the best time.  She was even around for my oldest 3rd birthday in May.  My youngest turned 2 in November and we celebrated with a carnival themed birthday party.

 We went to Busch Gardens and the Florida Aquarium several times.  We had more play dates and outings then I can count and loved every single one.

 Charlotte was dedicated at our church and Emma went to Vacation Bible School for the first time.



 We had a miscarriage late Summer, which resulted in a D&C.  Shortly after, we evacuated Florida for Hurricane Irma.  While I was out of state, I got to meet up with fellow blogger, Kelly, from OohBother.  She's amazing, so be sure to check her out! 

 Emma started soccer for the first time and I started taking photos for friends, which was outside my comfort level.  Taking blog photos is one thing, but actual mini sessions is another.


 My girls dressed up as Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck for Halloween, we spent Thanksgiving in Texas and had the best Christmas to date!



There is so much more we did here and there in 2017, but I would be writing all day!  It was a good year!

2018 Goals 

 I gained a lot of weight last year, for different reasons and big goal of mine is to live a healthier lifestyle.  I want to lose weight, but do it in a way that I keep it off and I want to include my family in this journey.

I want to dedicate more time to my blog during my free time.  I don't want to take away from any time I have with my girls.  This will be my last year at home with my oldest full-time since she will start school in August.

 While dedicating more time to my blog, I want to write more about our life, things we do daily/weekly/monthly, things to do in our area and more.  I absolutely love when I get sponsored posts, but I don't want that to be my main focus this year.  I want to grow my blog.

 I want to travel more in Florida.  There are so many neat things to do and see in Florida that is an easy car ride away.

 I'm sure I will add to my goals throughout the year, but this is what I have for now. Thank you again for following along!

What are some of your 2018 goals?  What would you like to see more of on my blog?


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Strawberry Picking | Making Memories with my Toddler

Monday, August 1, 2016

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I absolutely love spending time with my girls and making memories that we can share for a lifetime.  It's amazing how much Emma has grown in these last few months. I feel like she learns something new everyday or she's teaching me something new!  We have our good days and bad, but it's so special that I get to be a part of that. I honestly wouldn't trade any of it.

Now that Emma is two (going on 12), I love finding new things for us to do together.  It should be easy, but sometimes I need help finding things for a toddler to do.  Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be sharing some of our favorite ways to make memories together.


Emma and I both experienced strawberry picking for the first time and had a blast.  To see the joy and excitement on Emma's face was more than enough for me and definitely worth the hour and a half drive we made to pick them.  She is so full of life and personality!

This is definitely a must-do with kids of all ages, but it was especially fun for my toddler.   The farm we went to does strawberry, blueberry and blackberry picking!  Not to mention, this is an activity that doesn't cost a lot either.  The experience was completely free and we paid under $5 for a huge bucket of strawberries that we got to pick ourselves!  They were big, red and juicy!  Clearly, Emma enjoyed them :)  It was hard to get her to stop eating them and put them in the bucket!
 


My husband and I have friends whose boys' are around the same age as Emma (just a few years difference).  She loves spending time with them and I enjoy spending time with their sweet mommy.  The strawberry farm is near them and it couldn't have been a more gorgeous day to be outside.  



Afterwards, we took the kids to a nearby park and had a picnic!  It was so much fun and it made for a full day with no very little toddler tantrums.  This is something we will never forget and can't wait to do again!

{Picture overload because it was too much fun not to share them all!} 


WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES WITH YOUR TODDLER?


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