Life Lately Archives - Embracing Beauty

Enter Jif’s Most Creative Sandwich Contest #MC

November 6, 2013 by Ashley 5 Comments

Now through November 8th, Jif Peanut Butter is running their Most Creative Sandwich Contest and I’m entering. I think you should too!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Jif. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Being pregnant with morning sickness {for 5 whole months!} I learned what worked for my body. Snacking regularly on peanut butter was one of those sanity saving tricks that helped me make it through the day. Because I soon grew tired of plain peanut butter sandwiches I found other creative ways to eat peanut butter. One of my absolute favorites is this apple peanut butter sandwich that I created! I have to emphasis that I created it because it’s one of the few recipes that’s truly 100% mine. {Okay, so my mom suggested adding the nutmeg but that doesn’t really count, right?}

I’m planning on entering my simple sandwich in Jif’s Most Creative Sandwich Contest and if you have a creative sandwich recipe that uses 2 tbs. of peanut butter I encourage you to enter to! There is a $25,000 college fund and a trip to New York City up for grabs! Go here to enter Jif’s Most Creative Sandwich Contest and be sure to read all of the entry rules too. The contest ends on 11/8/13 so don’t delay if you want to win!

Take a look at this fun Tropical Fantasy Sandwich that made it to the finals of the contest last year.

Here are the ingredients in my Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich:

– 1 apple, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced {I used a Gala apple}
– 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar
– 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
– 1 pinch of nutmeg
– 8 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter
– 8 slices of bread {I used wheat bread}
– 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

To see the full recipe go here to EmbracingHomemaking.net where I have it posted. If you try it please let me know how you like it!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Life Lately Tagged With: Jif, Mom Central, Recipes

Minnie Mouse Birthday Party

November 4, 2013 by Ashley 30 Comments

Some of the items featured below were given to me in exchange for featuring them in this post.

It’s that time of year again…time for me to share about my little girl’s birthday party. This year she had a Minnie Mouse party because she loves that giggling mouse. She has a Minnie Mouse phone, purse, microphone, book, and on and on. This theme fit her perfectly with it’s feminine flair and pink hues. I hope you’ll enjoy this overview of her party. I’m sorry there are so many pictures but I just got carried away!

This was our food table that held sweet treats, drinks, and hamburgers and the fixings.

Minnie Mouse Cupcake Stand

This Minnie Mouse cupcake stand was custom made for this party. {See Bella Livelli} I chose an old fashioned Minnie Mouse image and requested it in the colors you see above. I was able to choose the number of tiers, the ribbons used, the design of each tier. I love that each tier is washable and can be used time and time again.

Here is an up close shot at the cupcakes. Shhh! Don’t tell anyone but I bought all of these cupcakes at Walmart and later embellished them at home. It was a busy month and this saved me a lot of time and my sanity.

I made bows out of fondant the night before the party {with this mold from Kreative Koala} and threw them on the sprinkled cupcakes right before the party.

These bows and ears came pre-made from 1StopParty and I quickly put them on the pink cupcakes myself.

Minnie Mouse Cupcake Picks

The Minnie Mouse cupcake picks came ready to use {from this CYN Paperie} and I think added a lovely touch to the chocolate cupcakes.

The cake pops were bought in the freezer section of Walmart and were surprisingly tasty! I kind of feel bad for totally cheating on these Minnie Mouse cookies but it was so easy. I bought cookies from Walmart and used a cookie cutter {See UniqueCookieCutters} to cut out the Minnie head. They were finished in ten minutes tops! {Don’t worry, we ate the scraps later too.}

Chocolate Cake

Because my life was so crazy at the time of the party, my good friend, Jennifer, asked if she could help out with anything. I was tempted to say no but she makes this a-maz-ing fruit dip so I asked her to bring some. I’m so glad she did, it was delicious. {Remind me to get that recipe for you sometime!}

I got this lovely Minnie Mouse banner from Sutton and Co. I always enjoy handmade items and I personally think these Minnie decorations are a lot less tacky {is that the right word?} than a lot of the mass produced Minnie party decorations.

Minnie Mouse Gift Bags

Check out these cute party favor bags from the Etsy shop, Barn Nest. Are they not adorable?! I was able to choose everything about these bags from the color bag, color bow, types and color of ribbons. I decided everything but I didn’t have to spend time working on them. Can you tell how much I love shopping at Etsy?

These party favors were perfect for even the smallest partiers – pink crayons! {See Lil Nicks}

Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse Ears

These cute Minnie and Mickey Mouse ears were purchased on clearance from a local party store. I don’t know how I lucked into running across these but I was ecstatic about this find!!

Minnie Mouse Party Straws

I also stumbled upon these fun straws at the party store. They were fun for the kids to use and later take home with them.

Here is another look at our table filled with yumminess. You can see the chocolate cake for the guests to eat, pink marshmallows which the kids loved, raspberry M&Ms {yum!}, and on top of the cupcake stand you’ll see a tiny cake with two candles for the birthday girl.

Here’s a closer look at the Minnie Mouse topper and my daughter’s turtle cake {bought from Walmart – Shh!}.

The birthday girl loved her cake and while she didn’t get too messy she enjoyed it.

Minnie Mouse Party Candy Table

Our sweets included a variety of pink shades and candy for both adults and kids.

These DIY Minnie Mouse plates were so easy to make that I even did this myself! I already had a Cricut so I went and bought a Mickey/Minnie Mouse cartridge for it. Once I had my Minnie heads cut I simply glued them to the back of clear plates. Very simple!

I used the same size Minnie head for simplicity and here’s what they look like on the smaller dessert plates. If you want to get really creative you could even add a bow on there too!

Here is a look at our decorated back porch where the men spent their time talking as they grilled. The Minnie Mouse streamers which you see here {and you can see from other pictures that they were used inside} came from the Etsy shop called Welcome to My Store. The pink hanging lanterns and such were bought at a local party store.

Thank you for letting me share this birthday party with you! I also want to thank all those who were involved in helping me set everything up, tear everything down, and those who came to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. I appreciate you all!

For those that I don’t know personally who found my site while searching for Minnie Mouse party ideas I hope that I’ve inspired you a little. Feel free to Pin any idea you see so you can remember them later! If you want to blog about any part of this party feel free to do so, all I ask is that you link back to this post.

{Also see last year’s Pink Lemonade Birthday Party}

Thank you again for reading and have a beautiful day!

Filed Under: Life Lately Tagged With: Birthdays, Minnie Mouse, Parties

KidKraft Cookie Baking Set Review

October 21, 2013 by Ashley 22 Comments

Last Christmas, I wrote about how I searched and searched to find my daughter the perfect play kitchen and how I ended up with a KidKraft kitchen. {See my KidKraft Kitchen Review here} When the good people at KidKraft saw my post they wrote me an email to tell me how much the liked my thorough review and they asked for my address so that they could send me a KidKraft Baking Set for free – no strings attached. Of course I said yes and my daughter has happily played with it for months now. She loves it and I love that it’s made with the same KidKraft quality that I’ve came to expect.

Since Christmas is just around the corner I wanted to share my review of this baking set with you in case that you or someone you know is considering buying a set for the special child in your life.

I’ll start with this stock photo from KidKraft. This set comes with a mixer, removable bowl, two cookies, cookie tray, a working rolling pin, and a spoon for stirring. Every piece is made with wood and covered with some sort of durable paint. After months of wear there isn’t one little bit of paint that has chipped. That’s pretty impressive!

My daughter loves to set her table and serve her little stuffed friends. Here is a picture of a table that she set herself. I know what you’re thinking…either that I taught her well or that she is OCD. ha! It may be a little of both.

Here’s an up close look at the cookies to give you a better idea of what they look like. They have some weight to them without being too heavy.

The mixer moves up and down with ease. It’s made well so that little fingers won’t get pinched when playing.

Kids's Wooden Mixer

Here’s a look at the mixer when it’s in the down position. You can see that there is a gap between the beater bars and the bowl. That’s nice for two reasons. 1.) It won’t scratch the bowl. 2.) Little hands can easily remove the bowl without having to lift the top of the mixer.

KidKraft Mixer

From this angle you can see how it fits perfectly on the counter space available and it even leaves some room for additional food prep. You can also see the circular logo in the side of the mixer. If I had my way it wouldn’t be there but it’s certainly not a deal breaker.

Here’s an example of that free counter space being put to good use. The lovely hand towel was made by my sweet sister-in-law who also made a matching dish towel too.

Here’s a look at my daughter baking her KidKraft cookies.

Okay, it’s time for a quick review.

Pros:

All pieces are made with wood so I know they’ll last.
After months of use the paint is still in perfect condition.
The mixer is made well so it won’t pinch tiny fingers.
No annoying noises or batteries to replace.
Working rolling pin and liftable mixer {yes, I made up the word liftable}.
Fits well on our KidKraft kitchen, it matches it, and looks nice setting out.
The bowl can be removed easily and used as a salad bowl or fruit bowl, etc.

Tiny Con:

I’m not a fan of the logo on the side of the mixer.

All in all, my daughter and I both love this set and would recommend it to any little chef. If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

This KidKraft Baking Set is on sale right now at Target for $23.49 but prices are always fluctuating so double check before you buy.

Filed Under: Life Lately Tagged With: Christmas, Gifts, KidKraft, toys

The Gift of Sleep from Pampers & a Giveaway! Ends 10/26

October 17, 2013 by Ashley 79 Comments

I can remember it like it was yesterday. My husband and I simultaneously jumping out of bed in the middle of the night to care for our fussy newborn. First we’d check to make sure she was dry, wasn’t hungry, and that everything was right with her sleeping conditions (no hairs wrapped around her toes, etc.). Then one of us rocked her while the other one searched the internet (seriously, what did parents do without it?!) for a sleeping solution. After we gave her tummy drops it was time to hold her in just the right position till she felt comfy again. This is the point where the one who wasn’t holding the baby would sprawl out on the nursery floor for a few minutes of shut eye.

Fast forward two years and now both parents wake up early in the morning to a crying child (or a singing child usually, our girl is happy), dragging ourselves out of bed to change a toddler who has peed through her diaper. One tosses the pjs and sheets into the wash and heads for a shower while the other one starts breakfast for the family.

We’ve tried limiting her drinks in the evening, going up a size or two in diapers, trying the expensive overnight diapers, and well, sadly the truth is we’ve just made peace with waking up early 3 or 4 nights out of the week. Hey, at least a load of laundry is done before we would regularly get up!

Pampers had a better solution in mind. They’ve came out with TWO new diapers and I’m excited about both of them.

{Quick disclosure: This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links.}

The first new type of diaper is a new absorbent Pampers Cruisers. These are supposed to hold 12 hours of wetness. Our family is more than a little excited about these!!

The second new diaper isn’t exactly new, but they’re extending the sizes that the Pampers Swaddlers comes in. Now they’re available all the way to size 5. Isn’t that nice? I’ve always loved the comfort and softness of the Swaddlers and couldn’t understand why they couldn’t keep that softness an option as the child grows. I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought that. Thank you, Pampers for hearing the desires of moms and dads and doing something about it!

Pampers sent me on a mission. They provided me with a $100 gift card to buy the supplies to make a gift basket and give the “Gift of Sleep” to a family I know.

My mind raced as I thought through the numerous pregnant women I know and then I remembered one friend who just gave birth to a sweet baby boy. He wasn’t even a week old yet! With my $100 in hand I went in search of supplies for my basket.

I realize I could have given her a blanket, slippers, and candles but chances are she already owns those and already has her favorite brands of each. I thought about cozy baby clothes, swaddlers, or a sound machine but since this is her second son I knew she already had those. What I decided on was beauty products for a time-rushed, sleep-deprived mama who just wants to feel pretty.

There’s no denying that having a newborn will turn your life upside down and you’ll have learn to temporarily manage without a full night’s sleep. I still believe that those tired mamas want to look their best for themselves, for their husbands, and for those who come to visit…at least, I know I did.

I chose a Senna lip gloss which contains two shimmery shades I thought would look great on her. She can toss this in her diaper bag so it’s always an arms reach away.

The blue tube (pictured above) is Naturopathica’s Aloe Replenishing Gel. This is a miracle product that reduces redness and inflammation while restoring collagen. Ideal for those mornings when you’re not sure if it’s 8am or 8pm.

The orange box (also pictured above) is a wonderful product from Ole Henriksen. It’s their Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster. Here’s a description from the Sephora website, “Formulated…to support natural collagen production, brighten, and minimize fine lines, this must-have serum defends from environmental aggressors and free radical damage, leaving skin healthy and protected. ” A quick solution to brighten your skin and a refreshing orange scent to boost your mood.

Last but not least in this beauty bag from Vera Bradley, is a Julep nail polish that I got to name! This color, Evie, looks great on fingers or toes for the perfect shimmery combination of red and pink.

Along with two packs of Pampers’ new diapers, I threw in a box of my favorite baby wipes, Pampers Sensitive wipes. They’re actually the only wipes I’ll use. They’re thin, easy to maneuver, soft, and have a pleasant scent.

I added all the goodies into this reusable canvas bag that would be great to house baby blankets or other items in the new baby’s room.

I added a little fun crinkle cut paper to the gift bag and we we’re off to deliver our care package to the new mom.

As I should have assumed, the new mom, Sara, didn’t want her picture taken but her husband and son didn’t mind being included in this photo I took. Their son, our daughter, and my husband were playing dominoes in the floor while I was able to catch up with the new mom and her darling little baby Austin.

***Quick update about Sara and her family. Without going into much detail I just want to say that it looks like Sara’s father will probably go home to meet his Heavenly Father soon. Please keep her family in your prayers. Thank you!***

Enter to win! Pampers wants to give Embracing Beauty’s readers a chance to win a prize pack of their own. Below you can enter via Rafflecopter to win a Sleep Sheep Sound Machine (which I am a big fan of!), cozy blankets for Mom/Baby and a $50 gift card.

This giveaway is open to those 18 years and older with a US mailing address. We will pick one lucky winner when this giveaway ends on Saturday, Oct. 26th at 1pm EST. Good luck!

Update: This giveaway is now over and congratulations to Jennie S!

Connect with Pampers:
Pampers on Twitter
Pampers on Facebook

Filed Under: Life Lately, Makeup, Skincare Tagged With: Charity, Double Duty Divas, Pampers, Sleep

Shelf Safe Milk #MilkUnleashed

August 7, 2013 by Ashley 5 Comments

If you are or have been the mom of a little one you’ve probably been faced with the dilemma of transporting milk on a trip before. I’m not alone in this am I? There is either the option of finding a gas station that sells a small container of milk, bringing milk in a cooler and keep refilling it with ice, or have your kid drink water for the duration of the trip. Now there’s another option!

Have you heard the conversation around shelf safe milk lately? I’m very happy to be participating in a sponsored conversation about shelf safe milk and why our family is looking forward to grabbing a few packs here and there.

When my little girl was just over a year we took a trip to visit our family. She was already finished with bottles but needed to drink whole milk. It was a long trip and I didn’t know how to transport milk to keep it from spoiling. We could have packed a cooler full of ice and milk but we didn’t have room for a cooler in our small car. We ended up just giving her water but if I had known about shelf safe milk I definitely would have gone that route.

I’ve recently been introduced to shelf safe milk. At our local grocery stores it’s either near the baking supplies or the juice section. They have juice size bottles that are perfect for travel and larger containers that are great for those times when we run out of milk.

Info About Shelf Safe Milk:

It’s the same milk you are used to only processed and packaged differently.
There are no preservatives.
The UHT heating process kills all bacteria.
It can stay on the shelf for 6-9 months (so check the expiration date when you purchase it).
No refrigeration is required until the package is opened.
You can freeze the night before in order for a perfect temp in school lunch boxes (great texture after frozen unlike regular milk).
There are organic and flavored varieties.
If your kids order milk at restaurants they’re likely getting shelf safe milk already.
Experts are now saying that milk is better for refueling instead of sports drinks.

Check out MilkUnleashed.com for more information.

How many of you have tried shelf safe milk?

This post was sponsored by The Motherhood and Milk Unleashed. All opinions and ideas are my own.

Filed Under: Life Lately

Sugar-free Gum For Kids from Orbit

August 5, 2013 by Ashley 10 Comments

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Orbit for Kids. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Good oral hygiene is very important for my family. Brushing, flossing, and mouth wash are all apart of our daily routines…well, most of the time. Sometimes I’ll skip flossing even though I know better! I wish I could brush after every meal and every snack but that’s not always practical and possible. Chewing gum, sugar-free gum, has always been a great option between brushings. It helps my teeth feel clean and freshens my breath. Win-win!

Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved gum but I’ve never liked the strong mint flavor that so many have. Now having kiddos and being around more kids I realize that I wasn’t alone with those thoughts. That I’m not alone with those thoughts. Fruit flavored gum is still my favorite gum to this day.

I’ve loved Orbit gum for quite some time now but they’re newest gum has me excited. Yes, it’s the little things in life that make me happy. Orbit now has a line of gum called Orbit Kids. They’re sold in a bag that has 10 micro-packs with 6 pieces of gum in each. These smaller packs are perfect to give to kids. Not to mention that the size of Orbit gum is great for kids! I can still remember my grandmother tearing a stick of gum in half to share with me. There is no tearing needed with Orbit, it’s the perfect size!

The best part of Orbit’s new gum isn’t the packaging but the new flavors they’ve unleashed. Are you ready to hear what they are? Strawberry Banana. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is! Don’t take my word for it though, go out and buy a bag or two for yourself. They also have a Bubble Gum flavor too but I haven’t tried that one yet.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your kid’s teeth clean through the day or if you just want to try a new flavor of gum give Orbit Kids a try!

Do your kids chew gum? What’s your favorite flavor of gum?

Filed Under: Life Lately Tagged With: Life Lately, Mom Central, Orbit

Letter to My Baby

August 1, 2013 by Ashley 21 Comments

Dear Baby,

Wow, I can’t believe you’re already three months old. You’re still inside my belly so I guess I don’t officially start counting till you come and meet us. Oh, and how we can’t wait to meet you! Your dad and I are very excited to hold you and cuddle with you. You have a sister who will be just over two and a half years old when you arrive. She doesn’t quite understand the fact that she’ll have a new sibling around the house soon but we’re working on it. She’s a sweet girl and I hope the two of you will be great friends.

I can’t wait to spend hours together just cuddling, feeding you, and enjoying life together. I’m very excited to be your Mommy. I can’t promise I’ll be a good mom but I promise I’ll try. Taking care of you and your sister and teaching the two of you how to take good care of yourselves sounds like the most fun and rewarding thing I could possibly do in my life. Thank you for helping me fulfill my life’s purpose.

You are going to love your daddy. He’s fantastic. He’s a wonderful daddy, so kind, sweet, and supportive. On top of that, he’s hilarious! With your daddy in our lives, our days are sure to have lots and lots of laughter and fun.

So, enjoy your last few months comfy and cozy in my belly and know that we love you. Unconditionally. You’re part of our family now and no matter what we will always love you.

All my love,

Your Mom

For those of you who may have your heads tilted slightly and are looking at your computer with a funny face…yes, I am pregnant! Our little family is growing and I couldn’t be more blessed. Thank you for allowing me to share a little of my joy with you.

A few bloggers and I decided to put together a Letters to our Children blog hop and we hope you’ll enjoy reading these heartfelt letters to our children. There are several blogs in total and to hop over to the next blog please visit, A Little Oven.

Filed Under: Letters to My Daughter, Life Lately Tagged With: Baby

Cans Get You Cooking – Delicious Meals Using Canned Foods! #CansGetYouCooking

July 31, 2013 by Ashley 20 Comments

I’m excited to participate in this sponsored Mom it Forward Blogger Campaign. This “Cans Get You Cooking” program is dedicated to spreading the message that the ironclad technology of cans seals in freshness, flavor, nutrition, and goodness so that you can create meals you feel good about serving and that your family will love.

I’ve personally cooked with cans for years for the convenience but only recently have I found out how nutritious canned food is. The canning process locks in food’s freshness, flavor, and nutrients at the peak of ripeness, just hours after picking. According to a University of California, Davis study, many canned fruits and vegetables have the same nutrients as their fresh or frozen counterparts. I love that! That means that I can serve canned foods anytime and with confidence that my family is eating nutritious fruits and veggies. Plus, I don’t know about you but I often throw away spoiled fruits and vegetables. I hate it and I don’t mean to but time gets away from me. With cans I don’t have to worry about food spoiling near as quickly!

When you think of cooking with cans what comes to mind first? Is it the number of soups that start with Libby’s mixed vegetables? What about your favorite pumpkin pie that begins with Libby’s Pumpkin Pie filling? Maybe it’s the numerous casseroles that start with Campbell’s Cream of… cans. I can think of many recipes that begins with cans and I’m going to share one of my favorite ones with you.

This Sweet Potato Banana Nut Muffin recipe is sweet and very moist. I hope your family will enjoy it as much as mine does!

Sweet Potato Banana Nut Muffin

Ingredients:

1/2 (15 oz) can Princella or Sugary Sam Cut Sweet Potatoes, drained and mashed
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup of walnuts, chopped
Handful of unchopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F.
Spray pan with non-stick spray (or use cupcake liners).
Combine the sweet potatoes, bananas, egg, butter, and milk.
In another bowl combine the whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, salt, and cinnamon.
Combine the dry and wet ingredients together and mix in the walnuts. Spoon into the prepared muffin pan till each cup is ¾ full. Drop the unchopped walnuts on top and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for 20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

What about you? Do cans get you cooking too? If so, what are some of your favorite meals using canned foods?

If you have a love for cooking with cans like I do take a moment to “Like” the Cans Get You Cooking Facebook page, Pin delicious recipes from the Cans Get You Cooking Pinterest page, and visit the Cans Get You Cooking YouTube page for cooking with cans inspiration.

Filed Under: Life Lately Tagged With: food, Mom it Forward

Blueberry Shortcake Cupcakes

July 4, 2013 by Ashley 2 Comments

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and All You, but all my opinions are my own. #lifeforless #pmedia http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

I love a great dessert recipe, don’t you? Especially an easy one! I usually find a new recipe by browsing Pinterest or one of my favorite blogs but this recipe inspiration came from the front of All You magazine. This is my favorite money saving magazine because it has great frugal living advice, cheap craft ideas, and affordable, easy to make, recipes. This recipes is an example of why I love the magazine! All You used to be sold exclusively in Walmart but now it can be found in many locations, including Food Lion. While I love Walmart, I’m excited that I can now find it in more locations. You can pick up a copy of All You at any of these locations.

This is a delicious recipe that I adapted from a recipe I found in July’s All You magazine. Their recipe was originally for strawberry shortcake cupcakes but I make it a blueberry shortcake cupcakes. They were amazing!

I started with a plain vanilla cupcake. If you need a recipe I hear the one at allyou.com/goldencupcakes is a good one! I also needed whipped cream or cool whip, blueberry jam, and fresh blueberries.

I simply cut the cupcake in half crossways then added jam and a layer of whipped cream. I repeated this for the second layer and garnish with fresh blueberries. That’s it, very simple!