Girly girl bows.

I'm pretty much tired of strangers telling me "He is so cute!". She's a girl, people. Wouldn't you think the pink stroller, pink outfit and pink shoes give that away? Anyway, this may help strangers decipher your little princess from a prince.

http://bowdazzlebows.com/

The One-Armed Cook.

I just bought this book at my local bookstore yesterday. I gotta say, the first few pages really are catching my attention. I have been slacking in the kitchen recently, and I need/want to get back into preparing meals for my family. Cause eating York Peppermint Patties aren't going to cut it forever. It's just not healthy.

crazy cakes.

Just found this blog the other day, and if you need a little laugh, well, this is the place to go. Cake wrecks. Hilarious.

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

summer + girly beer = bliss.

Michelob Ultra, oh how I love thee. Seriously. Ultra is the best girl beer on the market. And now there is reason to love them even more - new fruity flavors just in time for summer. Or, if you are in my area, just in time for perhaps summer of 2009. This stuff is in high demand in the Dallas area and no one can keep their shelves stocked with this stuff. Luckily, I was able to snatch a few (okay, 3) 6-packs of the Pomegranate Raspberry flavor after searching high and low for these precious babies. It is DEEEEEEEEEE-lightful. I have also tried the Cactus Lime and the Tuscan Orange Grapefruit. Those two don't seem to be as difficult to find.

So go grab you some! And make sure you take Dora, you will need her help locating these hot commodities.

I love Coach.

Took a little creative break this afternoon to design an entry for the Coach handbag contest. I would love any votes! :)

Design a Coach Tote Sponsored by Coach

Big Lots = big savings.

So a week ago, I went into Big Lots. I had to go into Hobby Lobby for a few crafty things, and Big Lots happened to be next door to see what kind of bargains I could find. And a few bargains I found! I couldn't believe when I saw jars of Gerber beef + carrots for $.25! (And they weren't even close to being expired, trust me, I checked.) I grabbed 4 jars, not knowing if lil D would like them. She ended up loving them, so I went back today for more but they were out! Darn. You gotta move fast, but they have some good deals. I also snatched up a few Method air fresheners in Cut Grass for 4 bucks that usually run $8 at Target! I love Method. And now Big Lots, too!

The Little Gym?

As I was driving to Target the other day, I noticed a place called The Little Gym only a few blocks from my house. Wondering what it is, I got online when I got home to do a little research. Looks like a cool place for my kiddo. Has anyone gone? Likes? Dislikes? It looks like they offer a free trial class, may have to do that.

Children's Place. They aren't messing around.

I ventured over to the Children's Place store yesterday. It was at the outlet mall, but I'm not sure if it's just a regular store or an outlet, but I gotta say...their Monster Sale is insane. I walked out of there spending $40 and bought 17 items for my little girl. I basically purchased her entire fall wardrobe. I suggest you get over there and get over there fast.

I love woot.

Woot.com. Funny name, serious deals. I stumbled upon this site a few months ago when I was shopping around for a Dyson. I read on a board sometimes they put refurbed Dysons on there, but once in a blue moon. Everyday, they post one item that's usually one heck of a deal. The catch? ONE DAY ONLY. Most of the items are electronics, but what girl doesn't need a new camera or tv?

Gap and Banana. Again.

A few days ago, I ventured over to North Park Mall. (Only the best mall in Dallas.) The Gap was having a great sale - an additional 25% off clearance prices, with a pretty good selection of clothes. Banana Republic is also having a mean sale with 60% off original prices on sale items. You can also shop online, but the prices are better in stores. Go grab you some!

$10.98 Liter Sale!

I love the $10.98 liter sale at Beauty Brands. It happens about twice a year, and you cannot beat a liter of high-quality salon brand shampoo and conditioner for $10.98. It's a great deal, so head on over to your local Beauty Brands to grab up a few liters. I like to stock up for the year. And yes, I am a sucker for new shampoos and conditioners. It makes me feel nice and girly.

the monster sale.

The Children's Place is having a monster sale. Better grab some cute duds for your little one! Click here.

So You Think You Can Dance.

At the time of this posting, it is exactly 4 hours, 44 minutes and 44 seconds until the best summer television show begins. Let's be real here. Most likely, lil D will probably just be getting ready for bed which means I will most likely be doing the bedtime routine. Thank goodness for DVR.

This show is awesomeeeeeeeeeee! (said in a real annoying Mary Murphy-type voice) It definitely deserves a ticket on the hot tamale train, whatever that is. I'm not a huge fan of the host Cat Deeley and I certainly can't stand the way she pronounces "judges", but overall, the dancers are talented, the routines are flawless and the choreographers are inspiring. Especially Mia Michaels. That is one awesome being, right there. My faves for this season include Chelsie, Twitch, Joshua and Will.

Tune in tonight on Fox....8/7c. And if you are just now joining the hot tamale train, you can catch up here.

fat men = bad sperm?

interesting article.

quick, guiltless pampering.

Mac Studio Fix. It's your makeup lifesaver. Your go-to when you need a fast, well, fix on your face. It's makeup application without compromise. Don't get me wrong, I am not scared to go out without makeup. Yesterday, when my Blackberry decided to steer me wrong and just not turn on (aka Crackberry) I quickly loaded lil D in the car and zipped over to my local cell phone carrier. Without makeup. (GASP!) I don't mind doing it, but I do like to keep a little morale and appear to be well-groomed most times. So I use this. It's foundation and powder in one. And takes about 20 seconds to apply. Add some lip gloss and you are good to go like hot cocoa!

baby legs.

A while ago, while browsing my favorite mommy board, I realized all these moms were obessing about these things called "Baby Legs". Wondering what the heck they were, I quickly googled them. And then discovered they weren't some weird body part, but the cutest accessories for babies EVER. I quickly bought a pair and now want a few more. It doesn't get very cold in Dallas, but they are going to be just precious for the fall and winter. What really gets me excited? One size fits all - from infant to big girl.

this ain't your mama's tupperware.

I'll be the first to admit it. I love Tupperware. Yeah, Tupperware. You know, the stuff your mom used to pack your lunch in with the yellow, orange and green colors literally from the 70s. But Tupperware has turned modern - and it's the same durable, dependable plastic is always has been. They have some great pieces perfect for entertaining as well as some fun kids stuff. My favorite item is the One Touch Reminder Canister Set in red. They can go in my pantry without taking up space on my kitchen cabinets. Check out Tupperware products here.

sonic happy hour.

If there are Sonics in your area, be sure to visit between 2-4 everyday for happy hour. Drinks are half price and you really can't go wrong spending $.75 on a medium vanilla Dr. Pepper. Delish!

homemade.

Making baby food sounds like a crazy, time-consuming endeavor, but don't let it fool you. It is soooooooo easy and so healthy! And not to mention much cheaper. Anyone that says it's hard doesn't really know what they are talking about, or can't use a stove, not sure which. It does take some time. But by "time" I mean about an hour. It's a perfect Sunday activity when you are preparing ready for the week ahead. I have Jessica Seinfeld's book, Deceptively Delicious and I pull ideas from there. Currently, I have butternut squash in the oven.

Easy steps: 1. Buy a butternut squash. 2. Cut off stem. 3. Cut squash in half, lengthwise. 4. Scoop out seeds. 5. Place halves on baking sheet, flesh down. 6. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until soft. 7. Blend in food processor.

music is important.

Music has always been an important part of my life. I am a strong believer in the arts and want to instill music into my child's life. It helps with development, rhythm and so much more.

I have already figured out what I'm going to be buying my little girl for her birthday in a few years. There will probably be something way cooler out by that time, but I can plan now anyway.

This little gem is such a great token. And they have really come down in price and size. For a 1GB, it's just $49. For 2GB, $69. These are so cute for kids and they even come in fun colors. The iPod Shuffle.

Barenaked Ladies Snack Time!

So as I was perusing iTunes for a few new songs, I decided to check out the Childrens' music. I have really started getting into Kids Stuff on Sirius. They have really cute songs (yes, some are annoying...it's true) like Under the Sea from Little Mermaid and more. I stumbled upon Barenaked Ladies, whom I love. Thinking I was seeing things, i clicked on the link and saw that they have a new childrens' album out, Snack Time! How stinkin cool is that. There are some fun songs in typical BNL humor. I have posted a link on the right to purchase it on Amazon.

cheat.

Every now and then, I like to cheat the system. This does not make me a bad mom. No, no, no. This makes me a creative mom. And you should feel honored. Because I am going share some of my secrets with you, my fellow mamas.

I love to bake. Baking is my favorite past-time. (Past-time? What's past-time?) Anyway, I am pretty darn good at making things from scratch, but every once in a while, I find myself in a pickle and need something quick to take to a shindig. So, I pull out my trusty box of Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix from Costco. Semi-sweet, bittersweet and milk chocolate, to be exact. These brownies are just plain amazing. I cannot even begin to describe their awesomeness. Okay, so a few words: gooey, chocolately, rich, decadent...you get the idea. You get six packages and can make as few or as many as you like. I would suggest many.

The smell of baking brownies is essentially free therapy.

mad for mojitos.

I'm sorry, but you really can't beat a mojito in the summer. I just love the cool taste of lime mixed with the delicious, grainy taste of mint pieces. And what's even better is that this drink has sugar and alcohol. How could you go wrong? Here is my simple, easy and fast recipe. I got this from a friend who enjoys hot summer nights on her patio. This is not an exact recipe, so just eyeball it and personalize it to your taste. Enjoy!

Using a mortar and pestle, smash mint leaves.

Add lime juice to mint.

Add some sugar.

Fill high baller with some crushed ice.

Add light rum.

Add lime/mint/sugar mixture.

Top with lemon-lime soda (i.e. Sprite, Sierra Mist, etc.)

Add extra mint leaves.

If you want to get real fancy, add real sugar cane sticks.

Hotsling = hot mama.

Hotslings. The hottest thing in mommy fashion. When I was pregnant, I had to have the Baby Bjorn, ready to strap on at any second. So I bought one. A few days after coming home with Dakota, I decided I needed a Hotsling. This thing is fabulous. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Bjorn, but the great thing about the Hotsling is that you can continue to use it even when your baby surpasses the 20 lb. mark. (So sad...your baby is growing up! sniff.) They come in great patterns and what's even better is they are compact. That means you can stuff it in your diaper bag and off you go. Cause let's face it - some places are just not condusive to your Hummer-sized Graco Travel System. They can be found in specialty baby shops or online. You can also do a store locator search on their site. I even saw a few at my local Target the other day. Happy slinging!

filofax fun.

Yesterday, I rented 27 dresses. I'm not a huge Katherine Heigl fan, but it was a rather cute chick flick. If anyone has been a bridesmaid, I'm sure you can relate to the hideous dresses you had to wear. We won't even talk about past prom dresses.

I digress...

Near the beginning of the movie, Katherine's character checks her Filofax in the cab. I am a sucker for organizational products and it happened to be a burnt orange color, which ia super fun color trend right now. Good thing for rewind. I went back about 20 times when it was first mentioned because I couldn't figure out what the heck they were saying. FILOFAX. Yeah, so what, she was getting made fun of for living in the 80s, but that thing was super cute. So I did a quick internet search and find the official site: http://www.filofaxusa.com/. Super cute planners. Even if they are so 80s. Whatever.

holy dyson.

WOW. I might have just found the best online deal EVER. to date. (okay, so I only started the blog today) but seriously, this is crazy. I bought a Dyson DC07 a few months ago at Linens and Things. (Which is a whole other story - the business went bankrupt, closing all their stores, go go go find great store closing deals, blah blah.) I researched and researched trying to find the best vacuum out there because well, I strangely enough like cleaning house. The Dyson was pricey and I only justified the purchase by having a 20% off coupon. But it was money WELL spent. The thing sucks dirt up like nobody's business.

Anway, Overstock (http://www.overstock.com/) has a deal on the DC18 Slim Vacuum (I will be jealous if you get the Slim) for $319. Shipping starts at $2.95 and don't forget to do your coupon code search. Many times they have 10% off codes. That is one amazing deal, my friends.

never, ever ever...

do not, I repeat, do not make an online purchase without searching for a coupon code first! it's silly these days to pay full price for something you want to buy online. there are so many ways to finding coupon codes online. the best way to do it would be to go to http://www.google.com/ and just start a search. if you are trying to find a code for Target, just simply type in "Target coupon code" and you will then find a plethora of options. it takes a little work searching for the right one, but it's well worth the 5 minutes if you can save 5 bucks. hey, 5 bucks will buy you a tasty dunkin donuts iced latte.

get lost? get a garmin.

so, i have been a big connoisseur of garmin for a long time. way back when, i bought the Garmin iQue 3600 which was a Palm/GPS navigator in one. i begged and begged for one for Christmas and low and behond, Santa came through for me.

recently, i have upgraded to the pink nuvi 200. of course, it's pink which is the best feature. but, what's also great is i can easily type in an address and it will take me there with voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions. i love it and couldn't live without it. you can also search the point of interest database and there is even a shopping category. brilliant.

right now, best buy has a deal going for the garmin nuvi 200. it is on sale for $149.99. if you use this coupon http://rewardzonecerts.bestbuy.com/PS%21OdCw1xAizrEFBgIAAAAGCgFICgg0MDI1ODYxNQoKMjQxNzIyOTk3OQkAFgmNCgkyODkwMDgyNDAF?ATTR3=05%2F30%2F08&ATTR4=06%2F08%2F08&ATTR5=coupon0201_sku.jpg you can save an additional $50, bringing your total to $99.99. if you want to purchase online, you can pick-up at your local best buy and present the coupon when you arrive.

you just really can't pass this opportunity up. it is a great investment to make, especially when you are running your kid around to soccer, piano and preschool. and the pool. and the grocery store. and...you get the point. it will be your new best friend in the car. caution: her voice gets a little frustrated when you miss a turn. she basically claims you are a moron by saying, "recalculating." hey, at least she tries to be nice about it.

gap/old navy/br and piperlime.

not sure about all of you, but i just love gap, inc. the company is hip, youthful and affordable. they have great advertising and great duds. and now, online, you can shop all 4 stores in 1. that means your shopping cart is combined and your purchase ships together.

right now, they are having some great summer deals. at gap, they are having a 40% sale. at old navy, you can take an additional 20% off with the coupon code extra20 at checkout. at piper, there is a 40% sale and at Banana Republic, there are further reductions of 60%!

For icing on the cake, you can get free shipping when your combined total is $100 or more with coupon code ship4free at checkout. Can't beat deals like that for the whole family.

converse.

every child (and baby) deserves a cute pair of Chucks. these can be found online at http://www.gap.com/ for $25. they come in pink, gray and navy. i just love the slip on style!

welcome, fun mamas.

hey, all you fellow fun mamas. i decided to create this site because well, let's face it. there is a lot of great stuff out there for your precious babies. as a stay-at-home mama, i love finding bargains, deals and just plain cute stuff for my little girl. but, as a stay-at-home mama, i also have to be able to justify every purchase i make. i have to be shop-savvy and reasonable. because diapers are just more important than a pair of Robeez. so i'm creating this site to share my random thoughts, helpful hints, great finds and deals. i hope you enjoy!